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GRIOLE.V  J.  F.  BRYANT,! 
ARTHUR  GILMAN,  J 


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ARCHITECTS 


J.H  BUEFORD  LIT H BOSTON 


THE 


CITY  HALL, 

BOSTON. 


CORNER  STONE  LAID,  MONDAY,  DECEMBER  22,  186 


DEDICATED,  MONDAY,  SEPTEMBER  17,  1865. 


BOSTON: 

PREPARED  AND  PRINTED 

BY  AUTHORITY  OF  TIIE  CITY  COUNCIL. 

MDCCCLXVI. 


ALFRED  MUDGE  & SON, 
PRINTERS  TO  THE  CITY. 
3-4=  School  Street. 


PREFACE. 


The  City  Hall,  recently  completed,  is  at  once  the  most  elaborate 
and  conspicuous,  as  well  as  the  most  important,  of  the  municipal 
structures  of  Boston.  In  its  external  outline  and  details,  and  in 
its  interior  arrangements,  it  presents  a striking  addition  to  the 
public  edifices  of  the  City,  and  one  which  certainly  goes  far  to 
do  away  with  the  reproach  implied  in  the  remark  that  our  people 
seemed  to  be  careless  or  indifferent  to  the  graces  of  correct  and 
stately  architectural  effect.  The  interest  with  which  it  has  been 
visited  since  its  completion,  by  large  numbers  of  persons,  and 
the  general  commendation  which  it  has  called  forth,  both  for  its 
appearance  and  the  accommodations  it  affords,  give  sufficient 
evidence  that  any  such  advance  in  architectural  taste  will  always 
be  appreciated  at  its  full  value  in  this  community. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  former  city  governments,  on  occasion 
of  the  completion  of  other  public  buildings  of  note, — such  as  the 
New  Jail,  the  Public  Library,  the  Alms  House  at  Deer  Island 
and  the  City  Hospital,  — to  preserve,  in  pamphlet  or  book  form, 
a permanent  record  of  the  history  and  progress  of  the  under- 
taking. The  present  publication,  therefore,  is  but  the  continua- 
tion of  a series,  not  only  interesting  to  our  own  citizens,  but 
of  value  as  a precedent  elsewhere.  The  buildings,  described 


IV 


PREFACE. 


and  illustrated  in  this  series,  are,  all  of  them,  such  as  embody 
the  best  experience  and  the  most  careful  study  of  their 
widely  different  requirements.  They  are  spacious,  conven- 
ient and  substantial  structures,  entirely  adapted  to  their  re- 
spective purposes,  and  carefully  arranged  for  the  most  thorough, 
as  well  as  for  the  most  economical,  administration  of  the  insti- 
tutions for  which  they  were  respectively  erected.  And  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  all  of  them  are  distinguished,  in  a greater 
or  less  degree,  by  such  marked  features  of  architectural  merit,  in 
detail,  as  the  wants  of  the  present  time  would  seem  to  demand 
in  the  principal  municipal  structures  of  a wealthy  and  flourish- 
ing city. 

In  all  these  respects  of  adaptation,  it  is  believed  that  the  build- 
ing, which  forms  the  subject  of  the  present  volume,  will  be  found 
to  fall  no  whit  behind  its  predecessors,  while,  as  regards  elegance 
and  elaboration  of  style,  it  decidedly  surpasses  any  former  struc- 
ture which  the  City  has  ever  been  called  on  to  erect.  That  this 
elevation  of  style  should  have  been  aimed  at  in  this  case  was 
naturally  to  be  expected,  not  only  from  the  central  and  conspicu- 
ous position  occupied,  but  from  the  fact  of  its  being  the  chief 
structure  for  all  City  purposes,  intended  for  the  official  and  busi- 
ness transactions  of  the  higher  branches  of  the  City  administra- 
tion ; and,  as  such,  well  described  by  Mayor  Lincoln,  in  his 
remarks  on  occasion  of  the  dedication,  as  “ the  crowning  glory 
of  our  municipal  architecture.” 

The  style  in  which  this  building  has  been  erected  is  so  great 
an  innovation  on  the  character  of  our  previously  existing  public 


PREFACE. 


V 


structures  as  to  have  excited  considerable  attention,  and  to  have 
called  forth  more  or  less  of  criticism  and  remark.  It  may  be 
described  as  the  Italian  Renaissance,  modified  and  elaborated  by 
the  taste  of  the  French  architects  of  the  last  thirty  years.  On 
examination  it  will  be  found  to  be  a style  which  grows  naturally 
out  of  the  character  and  requirements  of  our  modern  structures, 
and  which  enables  the  architect  of  the  present  day  to  preserve  a 
high  degree  of  artistic  effect  in  his  compositions,  while  at  the 
same  time  readily  adapting  itself  to  all  the  wants  and  uses  of  a 
practical  design.  It  is  gratifying  to  observe  that  the  taste  of  the 
present  day,  — if  by  this  term  we  may  describe  the  generally 
expressed  approbation  of  the  great  majority  of  refined  and 
educated  persons,  — manifests  everywhere  a decided  tendency 
toward  the  Renaissance,  as  a style  capable  of  supplying  the 
greatest  amount  of  convenience  attainable  in  our  modern  build- 
ings, combined  with  the  most  appropriate  elegance  in  their 
adornment.  A striking  proof  of  this  tendency  is  to  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  besides  being  long  naturalized  in  France,  and  being 
the  only  style  in  which  all  the  great  works  of  improvement  of 
modern  Paris  are  composed,  it  has  been  so  recognized  and 
studied  elsewhere,  that  in  the  great  English  competition  for  the 
projected  new  Government  buildings,  at  Whitehall,  the  designs 
to  which  all  the  highest  premiums  (>£800  each)  were  awarded, 
by  a commission  consisting  of  the  most  accomplished  judges  in 
the  kingdom,  were  without  exception  in  this  style  only.  It  will 
doubtless  ere  long  be  fully  recognized  by  sound  architectural 

critics  as  the  true  vernacular  style  of  our  age  and  country. 

2 


VI 


PREFACE. 


From  the  dignified  and  classical  character  of  its  details,  it  is  at 
least  peculiarly  fitted  for  a great  public  structure,  — while  from 
the  numerous  windows  it  admits  of,  it  is  equally  manageable  for 
the  various  purposes  required  of  it  internally.  In  short,  as 
remarked  by  Mr.  Fergusson,*  one  of  the  ablest  as  well  as  the 
most  critical  writers  on  the  fine  arts  of  our  day,  — it  is  “ a style 
which,  for  want  of  a better  name,  is  sometimes  called  the  Italian, 
but  which  should  be  called  the  common  sense  style.  This,  never 
having  attained  the  completeness  which  debars  all  further  pro- 
gress — as  was  the  case  in  the  purely  Classical  or  in  the  perfected 
Gothic  styles  — not  only  admits  of,  but  insists  on,  progress.  It 
courts  borrowing  principles  and  forms  from  either.  It  can  use 
either  pillars  or  pinnacles,  as  may  be  required.  It  admits  of 
towers  or  spires  or  domes.  It  can  either  indulge  in  plain 
walls  or  pierce  them  with  innumerable  windows.  It  knows 
no  guide  but  common  sense,  it  owns  no  master  but  true  taste. 
It  may  hardly  be  possible,  however,  because  it  requires  the  exer- 
cise of  those  qualities ; and  more  than  this,  it  demands  thought, 
where  copying  has  hitherto  sufficed ; and  it  counts  originality 
which  the  present  system  repudiates.  Its  greatest  merit  is  that 
it  admits  of  that  progress  by  which  alone  man  has  hitherto 
accomplished  anything  great  or  good,  either  in  Literature,  in 
Science,  or  in  Art.” 

This  volume  is  now  presented  by  the  Committee  on  Public 
Buildings  as  a final  report  of  their  doings.  It  also  includes 

* History  of  the  Modern  Styles  of  Architecture,  p.  329. 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


a history  of  the  proceedings  heretofore  taken,  from  the  first 
commencement  of  the  undertaking  to  the  final  completion  of 
the  building,  ready  for  occupancy  by  the  various  departments 
of  the  City  Government. 

The  Committee  deem  it  only  an  act  of  simple  justice  — and 
they  believe  they  speak  the  sentiments  of  their  predecessors  in 
so  doing — to  record  as  one  of  the  closing  acts  of  official  duty 
their  testimony  to  the  zeal  and  fidelity  with  which  the  Architects 
of  the  building  have  at  all  times  forwarded  the  views  and 
wishes  of  the  Committee,  in  preparing,  under  their  advice,  the 
almost  endless  details  of  a structure  which  will  long  remain  as 
a noble  monument  of  their  professional  skill. 

DANIEL  DAVIES, 

L.  MILES  STAN DISH, 
GEORGE  W.  SPRAGUE, 
NATHANIEL  ADAMS, 
WILLIAM  W.  WARREN, 
CHARLES  R.  McLEAN, 
NATHL.  McKAY, 

NAHUM  M.  MORRISON, 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings. 


City  Hall,  Boston, 
Dec.  30,  1865. 


- 


. 

. 


REPORT 


OF  THE 


COMMITTEE  ON  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

1862. 


3 


. 


' 


. 


REPORT 


OF  THE 

COMMITTEE  ON  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

1862. 


At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1862,*  the  attention  of 
the  City  Council  was  formally  directed  to  the  necessity 
for  a new  City  Hall  in  the  Inaugural  Address  from 
Mayor  Wightman.  He  said  : 

“ In  recommending  the  erection  of  a new  City  Hall 
of  sufficient  size  to  accommodate  all  the  departments  of 
the  government,  I do  so  from  the  conviction  that  the 
present  year  will  be  a favorable  one  for  this  under- 
taking. The  City  Hospital,  Public  Garden,  South  Bay, 
and  other  expensive  works  and  improvements  having 
been  provided  for,  it  appears  eminently  proper,  at  this 
time,  to  erect  an  appropriate  building  for  a City  Hall, 
which  has  been  required  for  the  public  business  for 
many  years. 

I have  ascertained  that  the  amount  now  paid  for  rents 
for  the  various  premises  occupied  for  city  purposes, 


* The  record  of  the  various  proceedings  of  the  City  Government,  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1862,  on  the  subject  of  a new  City  Hall,  will  be  found  in 
the  Eeport,  pp.  6-27. 


4 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


exceeds  the  interest  upon  any  reasonable  estimate  of 
the  expense  of  such  a building  as  would  be  worthy  of 
our  wealthy  municipality.  In  anticipation  of  some 
action  upon  this  subject,  arrangements  have  been  made 
by  which  temporary  accommodations  for  the  City 
Council,  and  some  of  the  city  officers,  could  be  pro- 
vided in  the  Old  State  House  during  the  erection  of 
the  new  building,  — the  leases  of  the  tenants  being 
predicated  upon  this  contingency. 

I trust,  therefore,  that  this  subject  will  receive  the 
prompt  attention  from  the  City  Council  which  its  impor- 
tance demands.” 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  new  government, 
the  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  the  following  gentlemen : 

Aldermen  — 

FRANCIS  RICHARDS,  Chairman , 
SAMUEL  R.  SPINNEY, 

JOSEPH  F.  PAUL. 

Councilmen  — 

DANIEL  DAVIES, 

JOHN  C.  TUCKER, 

JOHN  W.  LEIGHTON, 

JOHN  C.  FALLON, 

GEORGE  W.  SPRAGUE. 

So  much  of  the  Mayor’s  address  as  related  to  the 
erection  of  a new  City  Hall  having  been  referred  to 
this  Committee,  they  made  a report  in  the  Common 
Council  on  the  19th  of  June,  1862,  accompanied  by 
plans  and  elevations  of  the  present  structure,  drawn, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Committee,  by  Messrs. 


committee’s  report. 


5 


Gridley  J.  F.  Bryant  and  Arthur  Gilman,  Architects. 
The  report  was  as  follows  : 

REPORT. 

The  addresses  of  the  Mayor,  at  his  first  inauguration 
in  1861,  and  again  on  the  renewal  of  his  term  of  office 
in  1862,  having  alluded  in  the  most  marked  manner  to 
the  strong  necessity  which  exists  for  increased  accom- 
modation in  the  City  Hall  building,  for  nearly  all  the 
branches  of  the  city  government.  The  urgency  of  the 
question  to  which  the  remarks  of  His  Honor  has  thus 
given  a renewed  expression,  has  for  the  past  twelve 
years  at  least,  forced  itself  with  constantly  increasing 
weight  upon  the  consideration  of  each  successive  city 
government,  as  each  in  their  turn  have  gained  from 
experience  a knowledge  of  the  entire  inadequacy  of 
the  present  structure  to  the  important  purposes  it  is 
intended  to  serve.  The  subject  has  now,  in  fact,  been 
more  or  less  under  discussion  for  a period  of  twenty- 
four  years,  — having  been  felt  to  be  suspended  only, 
and  not  terminated,  by  the  alteration  and  repair  of  the 
present  building  in  1840.  A history,  therefore,  of  the 
various  action  heretofore  taken  on  this  important  sub- 
ject will,  it  is  believed,  enable  the  members  of  the 
present  City  Council  more  fully  to  appreciate  the  ne- 
cessity of  some  speedy  and  decided  measures  for  the 
proper  accommodation  of  the  present,  and  the  immedi- 
ately prospective  wants  of  our  populous  and  growing 
city. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a singular  and  almost 
unbroken  unanimity  of  feeling  and  conviction  upon 


4 


6 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


this  subject  on  the  part  of  all  the  successive  Boards  of 
the  city  government  since  the  year  1838,  when  the 
necessity  of  seeking  more  spacious  and  convenient 
quarters  than  those  afforded  in  the  Old  State  House 
building  forced  itself  upon  the  minds  of  our  prede- 
cessors of  that  day.  On  the  28th  day  of  May,  1838, 
an  order  was  passed  empowering  the  then  Committee 
on  Public  Buildings  to  report  a plan  for  a new  City 
Hall,  the  cost  of  which  should  not  exceed  the  sum  of 
$ 100,000,  and  to  submit  the  same  for  the  consideration 
of  the  City  Council.  In  compliance  with  these  instruc- 
tions, on  the  11th  day  of  June  of  the  same  year,  the 
late  respected  Mayor  Eliot,  in  behalf  of  the  commit- 
tee, submitted  a plan  for  a new  building  and  a report 
in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  order,  already 
given.  This  early,  and  in  many  respects  most  able 
report,  concludes  with  the  statement  that  the  “ situa- 
tion for  the  building  which  has  been  thought,  on  all 
accounts,  the  most  desirable,  is  the  same,  or  nearly  the 
same,  as  that  on  which  the  old  Court  House  now  stands 
in  Court  Square.  It  will  however  be  important,  — and 
the  committee  esteem  it  even  necessary,  considering 
the  probable  growth  of  the  city  and  the  extension  of 
the  city  business  within  a few  years,  — that  a little 
more  ground  should  be  covered  than  is  now  occupied 
by  the  Court  House.”  And  as  a means  toward  clear- 
ing away  all  obstacles  to  the  securing  as  much  room 
as  possible  for  the  purposes  of  the  city  government 
proper,  this  first  committee  on  the  subject  voted  to 
“ recommend  the  removing  of  the  Court  of  Probate  and 
the  Registry  of  Heeds  into  a separate  building,  to  be 


committee’s  report. 


7 


placed  on  a part  of  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  build- 
ing known  as  the  Museum,” — a measure  soon  after  hap- 
pily carried  into  effect.  And  on  the  same  11th  day  of 
June,  1838,  an  order  passed  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
“ That  the  committee  be  authorized  to  receive  proposals 
for  the  erection  of  a City  Hall,  according  to  the  plan 
presented,  and  to  contract  for  its  erection  as  soon  as 
the  necessary  arrangements  can  be  made.”  The  order 
was  duly  sent  down  for  concurrence,  but  the  plan  sub- 
mitted not  receiving  the  approbation  of  the  other 
branch  in  all  respects,  no  further  record  of  it  appears 
at  the  time  in  this  connection.  On  the  25th  day  of 
June,  however,  the  committee  were  further  instructed 
“ to  ascertain  whether  the  land  and  buildings,  situated 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  Court  House,  belonging  to  the 
estate  of  Asa  Richardson,  deceased,  can  be  purchased, 
and  if  so,  at  what  price,  and  also  to  procure  and  report, 
as  soon  as  may  be , additional  plans,  models,  specifica- 
tions, and  estimates  of  cost  of  said  proposed  new  City 
Hall.”  So  that  the  delay,  even  at  this  early  period  of 
the  undertaking,  appears  to  have  arisen  only  from  a 
disapproval  of  the  particular  plan  recommended  by  the 
Mayor  and  Aldermen,  and  not  from  any  indifference  on 
the  part  of  the  Common  Council  to  the  need  which 
existed  for  a new  and  more  convenient  structure. 

On  the  inauguration  of  the  municipal  government 
for  1839,  the  Mayor’s  Address  again  brought  up  the 
subject,  upon  which  no  definite  conclusion  had  been 
arrived  at  in  the  previous  year,  in  a still  more  urgent 
and  forcible  manner.  That  this  was  responded  to  at 
once,  and  in  the  most  prompt  spirit  on  the  part  of  the 


8 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


city  government,  is  shown  from  the  fact  that  a com- 
mittee was  appointed  and  the  subject  referred  to  them 
at  the  very  next  meeting,  or  as  early  as  the  14th  day  of 
January.  This  committee  appear  to  have  gone  to  work 
in  good  earnest,  and  to  have  made  the  best  use  of  their 
time  in  coming  to  an  intelligent  understanding  of  their 
duties,  since  we  find  them  on  the  1st  of  April  next  fol- 
lowing asking  authority  from  the  city  government  “ to 
make  such  purchases  of  land  as  may  enable  them  to 
report  a suitable  plan”  With  this  distinct  view,  then, 
of  erecting  a building  larger  than  the  present  City 
Hall,  we  find  this  committee  of  1839  fully  authorized 
by  a vote  of  the  same  date  as  their  report,  to  make 
such  purchases  of  land  as  they  may  think  necessary 
and  proper  for  the  purpose  named  in  their  application. 
And  on  the  4th  of  June  following,  it  was  “ Ordered , 
that  the  Treasurer  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to 
borrow,  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee  on  Fi- 
nance, the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars , for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  payment  for  the  estates  purchased  by 
the  committee  on  the  erection  of  a new  City  Hall,  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  old  Court  House.”  With  the  view  of 
carrying  out  the  project  in  the  same  vigorous  and  decided 
spirit  which  had  hitherto  marked  the  action  of  this  com- 
mittee, and  of  prosecuting  the  undertaking  with  that 
degree  of  earnestness  in  which  it  had  been  commenced, 
— an  earnestness,  it  would  seem,  commensurate  only 
with  their  conviction  of  its  imperative  necessity,  — they 
appear  to  have  at  once  proceeded  to  remove  the  build- 
ing from  the  estates  purchased  as  above,  in  order  to  clear 
the  site ; and,  probably,  also  paid  some  compensation 


COMMITTEE  S REPORT. 


9 


to  the  tenants  for  vacating  their  leases,  as  an  order  of 
inquiry  “ as  to  the  reasons  of  this  course,”  was  intro- 
duced, by  the  friends  of  a slower  policy,  on  the  14th  of 
October,  and,  as  appears  by  the  record,  failed  of  adop- 
tion. But  still  no  decided  action  had  been  reached, 
upon  the  main  question  of  the  new  building,  at  the 
expiration  of  the  municipal  year  of  1839. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  of  that  year,  it  had  been 
“ Ordered,  that  the  Joint  Committee,  on  the  erection  of 
a new  City  Hall,  be  instructed  to  pay  the  sum  of  $500 
for  the  best  plan  and  model  for  a City  Hall  that  shall 
be  presented  to  said  committee,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  December  next.”  But  the  temporary  measures 
of  relief  which  grew  out  of  all  this  effort,  and  with  the 
results  of  which  we  have  from  that  day  to  the  present 
been  compelled  to  accommodate  ourselves  as  we  best 
might,  appear  only  in  the  entries  of  the  following  year. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  1840,  it  was  ordered  in  con- 
currence, “ That  the  report  in  relation  to  the  alteration 
of  the  old  County  Court  House  to  fit  it  for  the  purpose 
of  a City  Hall,  and  which  was  referred  to  the  consid- 
eration of  the  present  City  Council,  be  taken  from  the 
files  and  referred  to  a committee  to  consider  and  report 
as  soon  as  practicable.”  On  the  18th  of  May  follow- 
ing,— the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  having,  on  the  11th 
of  the  same  month,  refused  to  concur  with  the  action  of 
the  Common  Council  to  fit  up  the  old  building,  — a 
committee  of  conference  was  appointed  on  the  subject- 
matter  of  the  difference  between  the  two  branches  of 
the  City  Council,  and  with  the  best  results ; since  on 
the  27th  of  July  this  committee  reported  three  different 

5 


10 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


plans  of  alteration,  with  estimates  of  the  expense  of 
each,  and  the  third  plan  named,  having  been  recom- 
mended by  them  for  adoption,  was  fully  adopted  in 
concurrence,  at  an  estimated  expense  of  $14,475.  On 
the  19th  of  October,  1840,  the  Joint  Standing  Com- 
mittee on  Public  Buildings  reported  that  they  had  made 
all  contracts,  for  the  alteration  of  the  building,  within 
the  sum  thus  placed  at  their  disposal,  and  that  the  same 
is  now  in  rapid  progress.  The  grounds  in  front,  which 
had  been  purchased  for  an  extension  of  building  area, 
were  ordered  to  be  laid  out  and  enclosed  with  an  iron 
fence;  and,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1841,  on  the  report 
of  the  committee  that  the  building  would  be  ready  for 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  it  was  voted  to 
occupy  it  for  that  purpose.  On  the  1 8th  day  of  March, 
a convention  of  both  branches  was  held,  to  dedicate  the 
new  City  Hall,  and  an  address  was  delivered  on  the 
occasion  by  the  Mayor,  Hon  Jonathan  Chapman,  being 
No.  9 of  City  Documents  on  file.  An  extract  from  this 
sensible  production  will  show  the  grounds  on  which 
the  speaker  judged  the  movement  to  be  worthy  of  con- 
gratulating the  city  authorities  of  that  day ; while,  at 
the  same  time,  it  must  lead  us  to  the  reflection  that 
such  grounds,  at  the  present  time,  no  longer  exist,  and 
that  the  growth  of  the  city  has  placed  us  now  in  a 
similar  position  to  that  from  which  the  Mayor  of  1841 
informs  the  city  government  that  they  were  happy  to 
have  been  relieved.  “We  have  now,”  says  this  address, 
“ rooms  sufficiently  spacious  for  every  department  and 
office  of  the  government.  What  is  of  great  importance, 
also,  we  have  now  for  the  first  time  all  the  officers  of 


committee’s  report. 


11 


the  government  under  one  roof ; a circumstance,  not 
only  important  to  the  despatch  of  business,  but  valuable 
as  bringing  all  the  officers  into  more  frequent  inter- 
course, and  exciting  feelings  of  entire  unity  and  har- 
mony amongst  them.”  This  desirable  state  of  things,  it 
is  evident,  no  longer  exists,  as  we  have  long  since  out- 
grown the  area  of  accommodation  which  alone  rendered 
it  possible.  Other  considerations  which  follow  are, 
however,  equally  applicable  now  as  then,  since  we  still 
remain,  as  in  the  words  of  the  address,  “in  a central 
yet  quiet  spot,  everything  around,”  if  not  “ within,”  as 
remarked  in  the  concluding  observations,  “ seeming  all 
that  a reasonable  being  could  desire  or  ask  ” for  the 
purpose  of  such  a structure. 

It  was  evident  from  the  first,  however,  that  the  occu- 
pancy of  this  building  Avas,  as  we  have  already  stated, 
to  be  regarded  as  only  a temporary  measure  of  relief. 
If  each  department  and  each  officer  of  the  city  govern- 
ment were,  for  the  first  time  in  our  municipal  history, 
introduced  into  apartments  sufficiently  spacious  for 
their  daily  uses,  there  was  yet  nothing  of  that  wise 
provision  for  “ the  probable  growth  of  the  city  and  for 
the  extension  of  the  city  business  within  a few  years,” 
to  which  the  previous  report  of  Mayor  Eliot  had  so 
significantly  alluded.  The  building  was  indeed  accom- 
modated to  all  the  more  pressing  demands  of  that  day, 
but  it  could  be  made  to  accommodate  no  more.  And 
although  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  alterations  at  that 
time  effected  in  it  should,  on  the  whole,  be  regarded 
as  eminently  judicious  for  that  period,  yet  the  fact 
cannot  be  overlooked  that  its  restricted  accommodations 


12 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


became  quite  apparent  within  five  years  after  its  first 
occupation  by  the  government.  Within  nine  years  after, 
these  deficiencies  had  in  fact  become  the  subject  of 
repeated  discussion  in  both  branches  of  the  City  Council. 
The  increased  number  of  offices  necessarily  created, 
together  with  the  natural  and  inevitable  increase  of 
business  in  every  already  existing  department,  the  result 
of  demands  consequent  upon  the  growing  wealth  and 
position  of  the  city,  had  reduced  the  building  within  so 
short  a term  of  years  to  a condition  of  unfitness  for  the 
wants  of  the  government,  almost  as  great,  compara- 
tively, as  had  been  experienced  in  the  building  which 
they  had  left  on  the  occasion  of  their  former  removal. 
Each  year  only  added  to  the  growing  weight  of  the 
inconvenience,  and  on  the  21st  of  February,  1850,  an 
order  passed  the  Board  of  Aldermen  “ that  the  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  Rogers  and  Holbrook,  with  such  as  the 
Common  Council  may  join,  be  a committee  to  inquire 
into  the  expediency  of  making  additions  to  the  City 
Hall.”  The  order  subsequently  passed  the  Common 
Council  in  concurrence,  and  Messrs.  Richards,  Seaver, 
and  Appleton  were  joined  to  the  committee  on  the  part 
of  the  Council. 

The  history  of  the  various  and  repeated  efforts  which 
have  been  made  to  bring  this  matter  to  a successful 
issue  by  almost  every  successive  city  government  since 
the  first  introduction  of  the  order  of  1850,  would  alone 
be  sufficient  to  convince  us  that  it  is  our  imperative 
duty  no  longer  to  evade  or  postpone  the  responsibility 
of  early  and  decided  action.  There  is  scarcely  a volume 
of  the  City  Records,  from  that  day  to  this,  in  which  the 


COMMITTEE  S REPORT. 


13 


partial  and  abortive  attempts  to  provide  the  city  with  a 
suitable  edifice  for  the  decent  accommodation  of  their 
municipal  authorities  fail  to  hold  a large  and  con- 
spicuous place.  No  harmonious  action  having  resulted 
from  the  order  of  1850,  on  the  13th  day  of  January, 
1851,  it  was  again  “ Ordered , that  Alderman  Briggs, 
Holbrook,  and  Smith,  with  such  as  the  Common  Council 
may  join,  be  a committee  to  consider  the  subject  of 
making  an  addition  to  the  City  Hall,  for  the  further 
accommodation  of  the  city  officers,”  and  the  Council 
readily  concurring,  joined  on  its  part  Messrs.  Swallow, 
Richards,  and  Smith.  On  the  11th  of  February,  this 
joint  committee  made  a report  upon  the  imperative 
necessity  which  existed  for  such  addition,  and  on  the 
24th  of  the  same  month,  they  were  authorized  to  offer 
a premium  for  the  best  plan  that  should  be  offered 
within  fourteen  days  from  the  passage  of  the  order. 
But  still  no  further  harmonious  result  appears  to  have 
been  arrived  at  as  a consequence  of  this  action  than  had 
marked  the  abortive  effort  of  the  preceding  year. 

The  year  1852  soon  opened  with  a repetition  of  the 
same  attempt  at  action.  But  by  this  time  the  project 
for  increased  accommodation  in  the  City  Hall  had 
become  entangled  with  another  question,  which  seri- 
ously retarded  the  progress  it  might  otherwise  have 
been  expected  to  have  made.  On  the  1st  day  of  March, 
an  order  of  the  Common  Council,  appointing  Messrs. 
Swallow,  Lincoln,  Lawrence,  Sprague,  and  Nicolson, 
with  such  as  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  may  join,  a 
committee  to  consider  the  subject  of  making  an  addition 
to  the  City  Hall,  for  the  accomniodation  of  the  city 


14 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


officers,  and  for  the  Public  Library , came  up  to  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  for  concurrence,  and  Aldermen 
Ober,  James,  and  Reed,  Avere  accordingly  joined  on  the 
part  of  the  latter  board.  On  the  15th  of  April  folloAving, 
it  Avas  “ Ordered , that  the  Joint  Standing  Committee 
Avho  have  in  charge  the  subject  of  making  additions  to 
the  City  Hall  be  authorized  to  report  any  plan  they 
may  deem  expedient  by  Avhich  accommodation  for  all 
the  city  officers  and  for  the  Public  Library  may  be  had 
in  one  building.”  But  this  crude  and  anomalous  idea 
Avas  happily  disposed  of  by  the  good  sense  of  the 
committee,  Avho,  as  the  easiest  means  of  averting  a 
result  so  utterly  fatal  to  the  uses  or  convenience  of  both 
buildings,  on  the  10th  day  of  May  folloAving,  reported 
through  their  chairman,  Mayor  Seaver,  “ That  it  is  not 
expedient  for  the  City  Council  to  take  any  further 
action  in  the  premises  at  the  present  time,”  and  thus, 
for  another  year,  the  opportunity  for  the  much  desired 
improvement  Avas  again  lost. 

The  year  1853  having  been  the  period  in  which  the 
great  Avork  of  the  present  Public  Library  Avas  first 
seriously  considered,  it  Avas  deemed  unadvisable  to  bring 
forward  the  claims  of  any  other  project  Avhicli  Avould 
necessarily  involve  the  city  in  any  great  expenditure. 
No  attempt  at  any  action  in  the  matter  of  a neAV  City 
Hall,  Avas  therefore  made  in  either  branch  of  the  city 
government  for  that  year.  And  this  state  of  feeling 
probably  continued  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the 
folloAving  year,  during  Avhich  the  steps  tOAvard  building 
the  Library  Avere  actively  taken.  We  have  seen  that 
the  preceding  City  Councils  had  in  each  case  taken  up 


committee’s  report. 


15 


the  subject  of  the  City  Hall  with  considerable  vigor 
in  the  first  month  or  two  of  their  administration,  and 
that  the  decision  upon  it  seemed  to  fade  away  before 
the  pressure  of  other  and  more  immediate,  because  only 
temporary,  questions  as  they  came,  each,  towards  the 
end  of  their  respective  terms  of  service.  In  fact,  it 
has  generally  been  found  that  any  attempt  to  make  an 
appropriation  of  any  magnitude,  if  not  acted  upon  and 
some  definite  conclusion  arrived  at  upon  it  before  the 
summer  recess,  is  rendered  almost  hopeless  of  success  in 
the  later  sessions  of  the  year.  The  members  naturally, 
perhaps,  prefer  to  leave  the  decision  upon  the  expendi- 
ture to  be  incurred  in  the  hands  of  their  incoming 
successors,  under  whose  more  immediate  direction  the 
necessary  appropriations  are  to  be  expended.  But  the 
city  government  of  1854  still  appear  to  have  felt  it 
incumbent  on  them  not  to  go  out  of  office  without 
adding  something  of  their  own  to  the  swelling  testi- 
mony on  the  subject  of  this  crying  necessity,  which  the 
records  of  the  previous  years  had  already  rolled  up. 
Accordingly,  as  one  of  their  latest  acts,  on  the  28th 
day  of  December  they  delivered  themselves  of  their 
share  of  conviction  in  the  following  entry : “ Whereas, 
the  present  City  Hall  is  insufficient,  inconvenient,  and 
in  many  respects  unsuitable  for  the  transaction  of  the 
various  and  rapidly  increasing  public  business  of  the 
City,  therefore,  Resolved , As  the  opinion  of  the  City 
Council,  that  the  true  interest  of  the  City  requires  the 
erection  at  an  early  day  of  a new  and  more  commodious 
City  Hall,  equal  to  the  present  and  prospective  wants  of 
the  Citp."  And  on  the  30th  day  of  December  this 


16 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


resolution  was  referred  to  the  next  City  Council  for 
their  attention. 

The  work  on  the  Public  Library,  however,  still  con- 
tinuing through  the  year  1855,  no  action  of  any  kind 
was  taken  in  regard  to  the  matter  during  that  year. 
But  on  the  17th  of  March,  1856,  it  was  again  “ Ordered , 
That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  consider  and 
report  what  repairs  and  additions  are  necessary  to  be 
made  to  the  City  Hall,  with  authority  to  procure  plans 
and  estimates;”  and  this  act  was  approved  by  the  Mayor 
on  the  18th  of  the  same  month.  The  Joint  Standing 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings  having  reported  to  the 
Common  Council  in  favor  of  the  enlargement,  on  the 
5th  of  May  it  was  further  “ Ordered , That  the  whole 
subject  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Build- 
ings, respecting  repairs  and  alterations  of  the  City  Hall, 
be  recommitted  to  said  committee,  with  authority  to 
procure  plans  and  estimates  of  said  repairs  and  altera- 
tions, or  of  a new  building,  or  of  both,  at  their  dis- 
cretion.” A plan  having  been  brought  forward,  in 
consequence  of  this  order,  on  the  11th  of  July  follow- 
ing an  order  was  passed  in  concurrence,  “ That  the 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings  have  further  time  to 
report  on  an  enlargement  of  the  old  City  Hall,  or  the 
erection  of  a new  one.”  But  no  further  decision 
appears  to  have  been  arrived  at  before  the  expiration 
of  the  year. 

The  city  government  of  1857  again  took  up  the 
familiar  subject.  On  the  6th  of  April  it  was  ordered, 
in  concurrence,  “ That  the  Committee  on  Public  Build- 
ings be  requested  to  inquire  and  report  if  further 


committee’s  report. 


17 


accommodation  be  required  for  the  city  government  and 
officers,  and  if  so,  by  what  means  it  may  be  best  sup- 
plied.” And  this  order,  thus  referred,  produced  from 
the  pen  of  the  able  and  experienced  chairman  of  that 
committee,  — the  late  Mr.  Alderman  Bonney,  — a 
report  by  far  the  most  full,  interesting,  and  conclusive 
that  has  ever  appeared  upon  the  subject ; looking  at 
the  whole  matter  in  all  its  bearings,  and  touching  upon 
all  its  requirements  in  a manner  which  may  be  con- 
sidered to  exhaust  whatever  might  properly  be  said 
upon  the  question.  “ The  order,”  says  this  well- 
considered  report,  “ contemplates  two  inquiries : first, 
whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  further  accommodations 
are  required,  and  where,  and  in  what  way,  and  by 
what  means  such  want  may  best  be  supplied.  It  is 
not  to  be  presumed  that  your  committee  are  to  con- 
strue the  order  strictly,  and  look  only  to  wants  that  are 
imperative  ; for,  if  so,  we  should  say  at  once  that  there 
is  no  officer  who  has  not  some  place  or  office  where  he 
can  be  seen  and  consulted  upon  public  business,  either 
within  or  without  the  walls  of  the  City  Hall.  But  we 
presume  that  we  are  to  inquire  whether  the  officers  of 
the  government,  and  the  public  who  have  to  transact 
business  with  such  officers,  have  such  accommodations 
as  it  becomes  the  most  opulent  city  (relatively)  now 
in  the  nineteenth  century  to  furnish  ; and  whether  in 
appearance  even,  the  City  Hall  is  what  it  should  be,  as 
the  representative  habitation  of  that  government,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  inconvenience  occasioned  to  those 
of  us  who  assist  in  the  transaction  of  the  public  busi- 
ness, and  without  compensation  therefor,  in  having  to 
7 


18 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


go  into  three  or  four  buildings  in  as  many  streets,  to 
chase  up  a fact  or  to  get  information  that  ought  to  be 
near  at  hand,  and  within  the  walls  of  the  same  build- 
ing. We  presume  further,  that  the  inquiry  has  refer- 
ence to  the  extent  of  accommodations  within  the  City 
Hall  building,  and  what  are  required  to  be,  or  ought 
to  be  within  such  building,  and  how  far  they  are  now 
so  provided. 

“ We  give  an  answer  to  this  inquiry  briefly,  when  we 
say  that  ten  distinct  departments  of  the  public  service  have 
their  offices  without  the  City  Hall  building , and  that  sev- 
eral of  them  require  more  than  one  room  to  each 
department ; while  the  balance,  that  are  now  accommo- 
dated in  the  City  Hall  building  have  not  the  accom- 
modations they  require,  and  very  few  indeed  have  in 
extent,  and  none  in  security  from  fire,  such  accommo- 
dations as  the  public  have  a right  to  demand  at  our 
hands.” 

This  report  was  laid  on  the  table  and  ordered  to  be 
printed  (City  Document  No.  42),  in  the  Common 
Council,  on  the  7tli  of  May,  1857,  and  on  the  8th  of 
June  following  came  up  before  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
in  the  following  form,  as  appears  from  their  record  of 
that  year : 

“ The  Joint  Standing  Committee  of  Public  Buildings, 
to  whom  was  referred  the  order  of  the  8th  of  April, 
requesting  the  committee  to  inquire  and  report  if  fur- 
ther accommodation,”  &c.,  &c.,  reported  as  per  City 
Document,  No.  42,  that  such  accommodations  are 


committee’s  report. 


19 


imperatively  required  for  the  reasons  therein  stated, 
which  report  was  accepted  by  the  Common  Council, 
and  the  following  resolve  and  order  were  passed : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  City  Council,  more  and 
better  accommodations  for  the  government  are  required,  and  that 
such  accommodations  should  be  provided  within  the  limits  of  the 
City  Hall  building ; and  especially  is  it  important  that  the  several 
offices  for  the  government  should  be  much  more  secure  from  lire 
than  they  now  are,  or  can  be  made  without  an  entire  renovation 
of  the  present  building ; therefore  it  is  Ordered , that  the  Com- 
mittee on  Public  Buildings  procure  plans  to  be  made  for  a 
building  for  the  city’s  use  on  the  site  of  the  present  City  Hall 
(and  also  on  the  Public  Garden),  with  the  estimates  of  the  ex- 
pense thereof,  with  the  required  rooms  for  all  the  present  City 
Officers,  and  that  for  this  purpose  the  sum  of  $2,000  be,  and  the 
same  is  hereby  appropriated.  And  the  question  coming  up 
before  the  Board  of  Aldermen  for  concurrence  in  this  resolve 
and  order,  the  same  were  fully  concurred  in,  with  the  substitution 
only  of  $1,000  for  $2,000  as  the  amount  thus  appropriated. 

But  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Aldermen,  on  the  15th 
of  June,  the  encouraging  propositions  which  had  thus 
been  adopted  were  again  reconsidered  in  that  Board,  — 
Alderman  Bonney  having  moved  that  “ in  view  of  the 
pressing  state  of  the  finances  the  same  be  postponed, 
but  recommending  the  subject  to  the  early  consideration 
of  our  successors.”  On  the  22d  of  June  it  appears 
that  the  Common  Council  had,  in  the  interim,  non-con- 
curred  in  the  resolution  of  postponement,  and  that 
they  insisted  on  their  previous  vote  to  take  immediate 
and  decided  action  in  this  important  matter.  No 
other  course  remained  open  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 


20 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


entertaining  the  views  expressed  in  the  resolution  of 
the  loth,  than  to  lay  the  matter  on  the  table,  where  it 
remained  until  the  28th  of  December.  On  that  day 
the  Aldermen  insisted  on  their  vote  of  the  15th  of 
June  ; and  the  Common  Council  concurring,  as  it  would 
have  been  useless  to  have  done  anything  more,  the 
nineteenth  year  of  attempted  action  for  the  purpose  of 
providing  the  City  of  Boston  with  proper  and  suitable 
quarters  for  their  government  passed  fruitlessly  away. 

Their  successors  of  the  next  year,  1858,  to  whose 
early  consideration  the  matter  had  been  thus  recom- 
mended, acquitted  themselves  of  their  trust  in  the  most 
summary  manner.  On  the  8th  of  February  in  that 
year,  it  was  ordered,  “ That  all  documents  of  the  pre- 
vious city  governments  in  relation  to  the  erection  of  a 
new  City  Hall  be  taken  from  the  files  and  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings.”  But  at  the  next 
meeting,  on  15th  of  February,  the  order  was  on  motion 
laid  on  the  table,  and  the  matter  was  thus  again  indefi- 
nitely postponed. 

On  the  25th  of  July,  1859,  a further  attempt  was 
made  to  proceed  in  the  business.  On  that  day  it  was 
“ Ordered,  that  so  much  of  the  Mayor’s  Message  on  the 
subject  of  the  Back  Bay  Lands  as  relates  to  the  neces- 
sity of  further  accommodations  for  a City  Hall,  be 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings.”  The 
Committee  kept  the  matter  by  them  till  their  last  meet- 
ing on  the  29th  of  December,  when  they  again  reported 
reference  to  the  next  City  Council. 

The  introduction  of  the  subject  in  the  city  govern- 
ment for  the  year  1860,  was  the  occasion  for  giving  it 
a greater  amount  of  attention  than  it  had  ever  before 


committee’s  report. 


21 


received  in  a single  year.  As  early  in  the  year  as  the 
16th  of  January,  an  order  passed  referring  that  portion 
of  the  Mayor’s  Address  which  related  to  the  erection 
of  a City  Ilall,  and  to  the  enlargement  of  the  courts, 
to  a joint  committee  of  both  branches  of  the  City  Council. 
As  early  as  the  6tli  of  February,  this  committee  reported, 
“ That,  having  given  the  subject  a careful  consideration, 
they  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  not  now, 
and  probably  will  not  be  for  many  years,  expedient  to 
remove  the  City  Hall  from  its  present  location,  near  the 
business  centre,  and,  therefore,  as  the  building  now 
occupied  for  that  purpose  is  one  of  great  solidity,  and 
well  adapted  without  material  change  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  many  departments  of  the  government,  they 
therefore  advise  that  an  enlargement  of  the  same  be 
made  towards  School  Street,  of  sufficient  capacity  to 
afford  ample  room  for  all  the  present  and  prospective 
requirements  of  the  city  government,  for  at  least  twenty 
years  to  come.  Should  the  time  however  arrive  when 
the  public  may  demand  that  the  City  Hall  should  be 
located  further  south,  the  new  rooms  proposed  to  be 
erected  would  then  be,  from  their  position,  well  adapted 
for  renting  for  business  purposes.”  The  committee 
also  recommended  the  passage  of  an  order  authorizing 
the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  to  procure  plans  and 
estimates  for  the  enlargement  of  the  present  building 
in  a southerly  direction.  The  report  was  carefully 
drawn  up  and,  by  the  Committee  on  Printing,  author- 
ized to  be  printed  on  the  5th  day  of  June,  — being 
City  Document,  No.  44,  of  printed  Documents  now  on 
file.  But  the  diversity  of  views  which  prevailed 
appear  to  have  induced  a more  than  usual  delay  of 
8 


22 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


action,  and  it  was  not  until  the  5th  of  January,  1861, 
the  last  meeting  of  the  municipal  year,  that  the  majority 
of  the  committee  reported  a plan  at  an  estimated  cost 
of  $100,000,  and  the  minority  of  the  committee  having 
reported  another  at  an  estimated  cost  of  $120,000,  the 
whole  subject  was  again  recommended  to  the  notice  of 
their  successors. 

The  year  1861  brought  another  urgent  reference,  in 
the  Annual  Address  of  the  Mayor,  to  the  absolute 
necessity  for  other,  better  and  safer  accommodation  for 
all  the  branches  of  the  city  government.  And  the  mat- 
ter has  once  more  been  handed  over  to  a Committee  of 
the  present  year  on  a repeated  assurance  from  the  same 
source,  that  it  is  incumbent  on  us  to  take  some  decided 
action  in  reference  to  it  before  our  own  term  of  service 
expires.  In  this  point  of  view,  that  portion  of  the 
Mayor’s  Address  has  again  been  referred  to  your  Com- 
mittee for  consideration. 

We  have  thus  gone  over  in  detail,  but  as  briefly  as  the 
subject  would  allow,  the  whole  history  of  the  original 
efforts  which  led  to  the  temporary  occupation  of  the 
present  building,  and  have  brought  up  in  review  a 
record  of  the  earnest  and  reiterated  efforts  which  have 
since  been  made,  extending  over  a period  of  twelve 
years,  to  procure  some  better  and  safer  depository  of 
our  important  public  archives.  We  think  it  a question 
which  in  all  decency  should  now  be  met  and  settled. 
It  is  a ghost  in  our  municipal  councils  which  will  not 
be  laid.  Year  after  year  it  has  returned  to  vex  our 
meetings  with  fruitless  debates,  and  to  encumber  our 
committees  with  useless  action.  But,  meanwhile,  all 


committee’s  report. 


23 


the  branches  of  the  public  service  are  embarrassed  and 
impeded  in  their  daily  routine,  — the  utmost  inconven- 
ience is  impatiently  borne  alike  by  all  classes  of  the 
public  officers,  — the  limited  accommodations  of  those 
within  the  building  giving  them  but  little  advantage 
over  those  who  are  quartered  outside  in  leased  premises, 
while  an  amount  of  rent  is  annually  paid  for  this  exter- 
nal and  partial  accommodation,  equal  to  the  interest  the 
city  would  pay  on  a principal  of  more  than  $100,000. 
We  submit  that  the  reproach  implied  in  a submission 
to  this  state  of  facts  is  one  which  a city  like  Boston 
ought  no  longer  to  endure  ; and  that  the  duties  attached 
to  our  own  term  of  service  are  marked  by  no  other 
feature  of  a more  pressing  and  immediate  responsibility 
than  arises  out  of  the  necessity  which  has  been  set 
forth  in  such  strong  terms,  and  by  so  many  successive 
boards  of  our  predecessors  in  office. 

The  question  of  location  has  always,  with  a very  slight 
exception,  been  considered  a settled  one.  The  present 
site  will  always  remain,  as  now,  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  great  business  centres  of  the  city.  The  area  is 
ample  for  extension  on  the  rear,  as  well  as  on  the  front, 
to  an  extent  that  shall  not  materially  diminish  the 
pleasantness  and  beauty  of  the  desirable  square  which 
lies  open  to  School  Street,  — while  the  ample  passage- 
way on  the  east  side  and  the  open  area  of  the  Cemetery 
on  the  west,  give  assurance  of  a full  .supply  of  light 
and  air  to  every  portion  of  the  structure.  The  land  in 
front,  so  wisely  purchased  under  the  administration  of 
Mayor  Eliot,  at  a cost  of  $60,000,  now  represents  a 
value  of  more  than  $250,000,  if  required  to  be  bought 


24 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


at  the  present  time,  in  any  location  similarly  situated,  — 
an  advantage  both  to  the  convenience  and  appearance 
of  the  building  which  it  would  indeed  be  difficult  to 
estimate  in  any  precise  pecuniary  amount,  and  which 
might  yet  be  thought  an  unjustifiable  and  extravagant 
expenditure,  were  it  now  for  the  first  time  incurred,  by 
the  payment  of  anything  approaching  to  its  actual  and 
substantial  value.  If  the  city  government  should  give 
up  the  present  spot  therefore,  it  would  be  extremely 
difficult  to  secure  another  location  of  equal  advantage 
in  this  respect,  by  any  outlay  which  they  could  readily 
justify  either  to  their  constituents  or  to  themselves. 

It  is  perfectly  obvious  to  your  Committee  that  previ- 
ous city  governments  have  by  their  several  Committees 
on  Public  Buildings,  and  particularly  by  the  more  en- 
lightened action  of  later  years,  developed  projects  now 
preserved  among  the  records  of  your  Committee,  some 
of  which  would  probably  be  found  to  be  sufficiently 
complete  and  comprehensive  to  meet  the  present  emer- 
gency, or  at  the  least  to  be  well  adapted  for  our  renewed 
and  attentive  consideration.  We  believe  the  present  to 
be  a most  judicious  time  for  undertaking  the  erection 
of  the  much  needed  structure,  finding  our  reasons  for 
this  conviction  in  the  present  largely  reduced  prices 
of  materials,  and  in  the  abundance  and  cheapness  of 
unemployed  labor.  And  we  think  it  better  on  every 
ground  of  financial  policy  to  capitalize  the  principal  of 
the  sums  now  paid  for  outside  rents,  and  at  a low  and 
permanent  rate  of  interest,  than  to  have  those  rents  go 
on  increasing  from  year  to  year,  with  the  increase  in 
the  value  for  other  purposes  of  those  temporary  accom- 


committee’s  report. 


25 


modations  for  which  so  large  a sum  is  even  now  com- 
pelled to  be  paid.  And  we  recommend  immediate 
action,  therefore,  on  the  Avhole  subject,  not  less  on 
grounds  of  true  economy  than  on  those  of  convenience 
and  propriety,  which  for  so  many  years  have  been  suc- 
cessively put  forth.  We  trust,  too,  that  we  shall  be 
found  in  this  matter  to  have  learned  some  degree  of 
wisdom  from  the  experience  of  our  predecessors,  and 
that  a subject  of  this  importance  having  again  and  again 
been  referred,  at  the  instance  of  almost  every  Mayor 
who  has  filled  the  civic  chair,  may  not  once  more  be  put 
on  record  as  having  been  considered  with  attention, 
reported  on  with  entire  conviction,  postponed  until  after 
the  recess  of  midsummer,  and  at  last  fading  away  for 
the  twentieth  time  in  the  later  sessions  of  the  year  into 
a feeble  recommendation  to  our  successors,  to  do  some- 
thing in  a matter  which  we  had  not  the  nerve  to  under- 
take as  a part  of  our  own  imperative  duty,  — and  while 
the  responsibility  as  well  as  the  merit  of  doing  it,  at- 
tached not  to  their  but  to  our  own  term  of  municipal 
office. 

There  is  another  consideration  which  has  impressed 
itself  forcibly  upon  the  minds  of  your  Committee,  and 
which  furnishes  an  additional  reason  for  immediate 
action.  The  roof  and  some  other  parts  of  the  present 
building  are  in  such  a condition  as  will  very  soon  require 
extensive  repairs,  and  it  cannot  be  occupied  for  any 
great  length  of  time,  with  comfort  for  the  officials  or 
credit  to  the  city,  without  such  repairs  are  made.  Your 
Committee  have  not  made  any  estimate  of  the  amount 
which  would  be  likely  to  be  required  for  such  a pur- 
pose, nor  have  they  deemed  it  worth  while  to  do  so 
9 


26 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


until  some  action  lias  been  had  upon  tlie  present  propo- 
sition. But  they  have  little  doubt  that  a considerable 
sum  would  be  positively  necessary,  and  they  would  sug- 
gest that  it  would  be  injudicious  to  incur  such  an  outlay 
upon  a building  so  confessedly  inadequate,  even  for  the 
purposes  of  its  present  occupancy.  They  would  feel 
very  little  satisfaction  in  going  to  a further  expense, 
when  it  is  certain  that  the  lapse  of  each  successive  year 
would  only  render  it  more  and  more  fruitless  for  any 
permanent  good. 

Impressed  with  these  convictions,  therefore,  your 
Committee  have  sought  to  examine  the  whole  subject 
of  a new  City  Hall,  with  the  utmost  care,  and  fully  to 
mature  in  their  own  minds  the  whole  idea  of  the  requi- 
sitions and  the  proper  arrangement  of  the  much  needed 
structure.  To  this  end,  they  have  thoroughly  gone  over 
not  only  all  the  records,  bearing  on  the  subject,  now 
preserved  in  the  city  archives,  but  have  also  made  a 
close  and  critical  examination  of  all  the  plans  prepared 
by  various  architects  in  former  years,  in  pursuance  of 
the  several  votes  of  the  City  Councils,  to  Avhich  allusion 
has  been  made  in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  report. 
In  the  performance  of  this  task,  they  have  been  mate- 
rially aided  by  the  assistance  and  advice  of  most  of  the 
city  officials,  whose  daily  routine  of  duties  at  the  City 
Hall  enables  them  to  judge  of  the  imperative  require- 
ments of  any  new  structure,  and  particularly  of  the 
relative  position  and  accommodation  of  all  the  apart- 
ments for  which  it  is  most  desirable  to  make  provision. 
The  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings  in  particular 
has  been  assiduous  in  his  endeavors  to  give  them  the 
full  benefit  of  his  long  experience  at  the  City  Hall, 


committee’s  report. 


27 


and  of  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  internal  neces- 
sities and  conveniences  of  arrangement  which  in  the 
opinion  of  your  Committee  should  render  such  a new 
building  a model  of  well-matured  and  economical  con- 
struction for  civic  purposes.  Nor  have  several  of  your 
Committee  been  without  a considerable  experience  per- 
sonally, extending  over  quite  a lengthened  term  of 
annual  inquiry  into  the  various  requirements  of  the 
subject,  as  well  as  the  best  and  most  feasible  methods 
of  meeting  them  in  a satisfactory  manner.  And  they 
are  led  to  believe  that  they  have  thus  been  able  to  avail 
themselves  of  a pretty  large  share  of  whatever  knowl- 
edge or  information  is  likely  to  be  most  practically  use- 
ful on  a subject  involving  many  conflicting  details  of 
distribution,  economy,  and  taste. 

As  the  final  result  of  their  labors,  your  Committee 
have  caused  to  be  prepared  a plan  embodying  the 
matured  convictions  of  their  best  judgment,  designed 
and  arranged  under  their  own  immediate  direction  and 
superintendence.  They  have  intended  fully  to  provide 
in  it  for  the  due  and  convenient  location  of  the  several 
apartments  necessary  for  the  accommodation  of  all 
the  various  branches  of  the  city  government.  And  in 
order  as  far  as  possible  to  avoid  the  reiterated,  and  as 
they  cannot  but  think,  needless,  delays  of  former  years, 
they  now  present  it  as  a part  of  this  report,  together 
with  the  following  description*  of  the  arrangement, 
accommodation,  and  style  of  the  proposed  structure. 


* It  will  appear  by  the  subsequent  description  of  the  building  as  finished 
that  changes  have  been  made  in  the  internal  arrangement  of  the  building. 


28 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


BASEMENT  STORY. 

City  Physician’s  public  office  . . 27X28 

City  Physician’s  operating  room  . 23X28 

Waiting  room,  in  connection  with  Direc- 
tors of  Public  Institutions  . . 25X30 

Clerks  of  Institutions  . . . 18X25 

Storeroom  for  Messenger  . . .14X20 

Storeroom  for  Superintendent  of  Public 

Buildings  . . . . .11^X20 

Engine  House  ....  27X33 

Meeting  room  for  Engine  Co.  . . 27X28 
Apartment  containing  twelve  water-clos- 


ets  and  eighteen  urinals 

. 30X32 

Cellar  for  fuel  . . . . 

31X57 

Cellar  for  heating  apparatus 

. 15X46 

Hall  and  staircases  . 

32X76 

Two  entrances  from  Court  Square 

. 12X25 

FIRST  STORY. 


Treasurer’s  business  room  . . 57X31.6 

Treasurer’s  private  room  . . .13X14 

Auditor  . . . . . . 27X36 

Lavatory  and  water-closets  for  Auditor 

and  Treasurer  . . . . 12X14 

Safes  for  Auditor  and  Treasurer,  each  6X12 
Water  Registrar’s  business  room  . 29X31 

Water  Registrar’s  private  room  . . 13X14 

Assessors’  room  . . . . 27X40 

Police  general  room  . . . .27X32 

Chief  of  Police  room  . . . 16X26 

(with  private  staircase  leading  to  the 
Mayor’s  private  room). 

Overseers  of  the  Poor  . . . 25X30 

Directors  of  Public  Institutions  . . 18X25 


feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high. 

feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high. 

feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high. 

feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high, 
feet,  12  feet  high. 


feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high. 

feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high. 


feet,  15  feet  high, 
feet,  15  feet  high. 


committee’s  report. 


29 


Hall  and  staircases  . . . . 32X76  feet, 

Entrance  corridor,  connecting  principal 

entrance  from  School  St.  with  hall  15X48  feet, 
Two  staircases  from  Court  Sq.  entrance  12X25  feet, 


SECOND  STORY. 


Mayor  and  Aldermen’s  room  . . 46X46  feet, 

Mayor’s  lobby  with  accommodation  for 

Mayor’s  Clerk  ....  16X25£  feet, 
Mayor’s  private  room  . . . 25X26^  feet, 

City  Clerk’s  room  ....  26X30  feet, 

City  Clerk’s  private  room  . . 14^X22^  feet, 

City  Clerk’s  mortgages  . . . 18X22  feet, 

City  Clerk’s  safe  . . . . 8X12  feet. 

City  Solicitor  . . . . .16X23  feet, 

City  Solicitor’s  private  room  . . 15|Xl7£feet, 

Large  committee  room  . . .25X46  feet, 

Committee  room  and  Clerk  of  Commit- 
tee’s room  . . . . 18X25  feet, 

Committee  room  . . . .18X25  feet, 

Superintendent  Public  Buildings  . 23X26^-  feet, 

Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings’ 

private  room  ....  16X16^-  feet, 

City  Messenger  ....  18J-X18J  feet, 

Hall  and  staircases  . . . .32X76  feet, 


THIRD  STORY. 

Water  Commissioners’ business  room  . 23X26^- feet, 
Water  Commissioners’  private  room  . 14JX 1 6J-  feet, 
Supt.  of  Sewers  and  Supt.  of  Lands’ 

business  room  ....  24X31J  feet, 
Private  rooms  of  the  above  . . 14X16  feet, 

City  Registrar  .....  17X31^  feet, 
Superintendent  of  Schools  . . 17^X25  feet, 

School  Committee  . . . .46X25  feet, 


15  feet  high. 

15  feet  high. 
15  feet  high. 


25  feet  high. 

13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 

13  feet  higli. 
13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 

13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 

13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 
13  feet  high. 


11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 

11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
1 1 feet  high. 


10 


30 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Committee  room  ....  17JX25  feet, 

Superintendent  of  Streets  . . . 24X31£  feet, 

Superintendent  of  Streets,  private  . 14  X 164  feet, 

Engineers  of  Fire  Department  . . 17X31  £ feet. 

Superintendent  of  Internal  Health  . 23X26J-  feet. 

Supt.  of  Internal  Health,  private  14j-Xl6£  feet. 
Hall  and  staircases  . . . 76x32  feet. 

Continuation  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s 

room  up  through  this  story  . 46X46  feet. 


FOURTH  STORY. 


Common  Council  room 
Common  Council  conversation  room  and 
large  committee  room  . 

Clerk  of  Council  .... 
Clerk  of  Council,  private  room  . 

Safe  for  do.  ..... 
Dressing  room  for  Council  . 


46X46  feet, 

32X42  feet, 
20X26  feet, 
12X25  feet, 
6X12  feet, 
22X25  feet, 


Range  of  water-closets,  &c. 
Committee  room  . 

Cl  CC 

CC  CC 

CC  CC 

CC  CC 

CC  CC 

Superintendent  of  Lamps  . 
Hall  and  staircases  . 


10J-X25  feet, 
23X23  feet, 
23X23  feet, 
23X25  feet, 
18X25  feet, 
18X25  feet, 
23X23  feet, 
24X25  feet, 
32X76  feet, 


1 1 feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 


38  feet  high. 


11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
1 1 feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
1 1 feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 
11  feet  high. 


FIFTH  STORY. 

Gallery  plan  of  Common  Council  and  suite  of  fourteen  rooms  of 
various  sizes  in  the  French-roof  story. 

The  story  under  the  dome,  and  the  dome  itself,  to  be  used  for  Fire 
and  Police  Telegraph,  and  for  sleeping-rooms  for  the  operators. 


committee’s  report. 


31 


The  construction  of  the  brick  walls  surrounding  the 
Hall  in  the  centre  affords  an  opportunity  for  the  most 
thorough  and  perfect  ventilation  of  every  apartment 
throughout  the  building.  Through  a series  of  hollow 
brick  Hues,  connected  with  each  apartment  by  registers, 
and  at  the  top,  with  the  main  hot-air  shaft  from  the 
heating  apparatus,  an  entire  circulation  of  air  through- 
out the  structure  can  at  all  times  be  easily  maintained. 
The  advantage  of  this  arrangement  will  be  particularly 
felt  in  the  council  chamber,  an  apartment  which  is  liable 
at  times,  — such  as  the  yearly  organization  of  the  city 
government,  the  conventions  of  the  two  branches,  and 
the  debates  upon  matters  of  more  than  ordinary  inter- 
est,— to  overcrowding  of  its  area,  and  the  consequent 
ill  effects  of  a heated  and  vitiated  atmosphere.  Against 
such  a state  of  things,  the  system  of  ventilation  pro- 
posed would,  it  is  believed,  afford  complete  security. 

It  is  desirable  to  observe,  in  this  connection,  that  the 
council  chamber  is  provided  with  deep  and  ample  gal- 
leries, in  a space  not  readily  available  for  other  pur- 
poses, and  which  will  afford  complete  accommodation 
for  a large  attendance  of  the  public  without  encroach- 
ing upon  the  floor  of  the  chamber. 

The  external  style  and  appearance  of  the  proposed 
building  are  sufficiently  shown  in  the  drawings  of  the 
various  fronts  which  are  herewith  submitted,  and  need 
therefore  but  little  of  additional  description.  They 
have  been  very  carefully  prepared,  in  accordance  with 
the  views  of  your  Committee,  by  two  architects  of  well 
known  standing  and  ability,  and  are  believed  to  be  such 
as  will  reflect  permanent  credit  on  the  taste  of  their 


32 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


designers.  The  style  selected  is  one  which  grows  nat- 
urally out  of  the  character  and  requirements  of  the 
structure.  It  will  at  once  be  recognized  by  all  those 
conversant  with  such  matters,  as  the  prevailing  style 
of  modern  Europe,  a style  which  the  taste  of  the  pres- 
ent Emperor  of  France,  in  particular,  has  so  largely 
illustrated  in  most  of  the  modern  works  of  the  French 
capital.  Derived  originally  from  Italian  sources,  and 
particularly  from  the  later  edifices  of  the  Venetian 
Republic,  it  has  now  been  so  successfully  naturalized 
in  other  countries  as  to  have  become  the  prevailing 
manner  for  most  of  those  edifices  of  a dignified  and 
permanent  character,  other  than  churches,  which  are 
destined  to  be  regarded  as  the  best  architectural  rec- 
ords of  our  time  by  posterity.  Your  Committee  have 
desired,  in  this  respect,  not  to  fall  behind  the  progress 
of  art  in  other  communities,  but  to  present  a design 
which,  with  a due  regard  to  economy  and  convenience 
of  construction,  shall  yet  stand  as  a fair  memorial  of 
our  own  advancement  in  the  knowledge  and  taste  of  the 
age.  We  believe  that  it  will  commend  itself  alike  to 
the  approbation  of  the  city  government  and  of  their 
constituents,  as  graceful  and  harmonious  in  proportion 
and  detail,  and  particularly  as  being  light  and  cheerful 
in  its  prevailing  character,  and  rich  in  its  general 
appearance,  without  any  very  elaborate  or  costly  deco- 
ration of  its  parts.  We  think  it  expressive  in  its  out- 
line and  arrangement,  of  the  purposes  for  which  it  is 
proposed  to  be  erected,  and  such  as  will  impress  the 
spectator  with  a sense  of  fitness  and  propriety  for  the 
principal  municipal  structure  of  an  enterprising  and 


committee’s  report. 


33 


thrifty  community.  And  we  are  confident  that  the  pub- 
lic in  general  Avould  have  good  reason  to  be  fully  satis- 
fied with  it  as  a permanent  ornament  to  the  central  and 
imposing  locality  on  which  it  is  proposed  to  place  it. 

From  approximate  estimates,  made  by  reliable  me- 
chanics of  well  known  standing,  your  Committee  are 
led  to  believe  that  the  building  as  proposed  can  be 
erected  of  suitable  materials,  and  in  the  best  style,  for 
a sum  not  exceeding  $160,000,  if  contracted  for  during 
the  present  year.  They  would  therefore  recommend 
the  passage  of  the  following  orders. 

FRANCIS  RICHARDS, 
SAMUEL  R.  SPINNEY, 
JOSEPH  F.  PAUL, 

DANIEL  DAVIES, 

JOHN  C.  TUCKER, 

JOHN  W.  LEIGHTON, 

JOHN  C.  FALLON, 

GEORGE  W.  SPRAGUE, 

Committee  on  Public  Buildings. 

Ordered:  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  be  directed 
to  erect  a suitable  building  for  a City  Hall,  on  the  site  of  the 
present  building  and  grounds,  in  general  accordance  with  the 
plans  submitted  by  them  this  day,  at  a cost  not  exceeding  the 
sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixty  Thousand  Dollars. 

Ordered : That  the  Treasurer  be,  and  he  is  hereby  directed 
to  borrow,  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee  on  Finance,  the 
sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixty  Thousand  Dollars,  the  same  to 
be  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  the  erection  of  a City  Hall. 


n 


34 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Alderman  Rich  submitted  to  the  Board  the  following 
order : 

Ordered : That  in  consideration  of  the  loud  calls  on  the  City 
for  large  appropriations  of  money  for  war  purposes,  the  Com- 
mittee on  Public  Buildings,  having  in  charge  the  erection  of  a 
new  City  Hall,  be  instructed  to  take  into  consideration  the 
expediency  of  abandoning  the  undertaking,  or  suspending  any 
further  proceedings  thereon  for  the  present  time,  and  that  said 
Committee  be  requested  to  report  the  result  of  their  delibera- 
tion at  the  earliest  practical  moment,  and  also  that  said  Com- 
mittee be  requested  to  report,  in  detail,  what  rooms  are  occu- 
pied by  city  officials  who  could  be  accommodated  in  the  new 
building,  whether  said  rooms  belong  to  the  City,  or  not,  and  the 
rent  paid  for  each  room. 


The  order  was  read  twice,  and,  on  motion  of  Aid.  F. 
Richards,  the  subject  was  indefinitely  postponed  by  the 
following  vote:  Yeas,  — Aldermen  Farmenter,  Pray, 
Francis  Richards,  Spinney,  and  Wilson,  5.  Nays, — 
Aldermen  Amory,  Hanson,  Paul,  and  Rich,  4.  Absent, 
— Aldermen  Norcross,  Henshaw,  and  C.  A.  Richards, 
3.  A motion  to  reconsider  the  foregoing  motion  (to 
indefinitely  postpone)  was  made  and  lost. 

The  foregoing  report  was  accepted,  and  the  accom- 
panying orders  were  passed,  by  concurrent  votes  of  both 
branches  of  the  city  government.  On  the  28th  day  of 
July,  a petition  of  George  Howland  Shaw,  and  others, 
“ that  all  action  in  relation  to  the  proposed  City  Hall 
may  be  deferred  for  the  present,”  came  before  the  Board 


ORDERS  ADOPTED. 


35 


of  Aldermen,  from  the  Common  Council,  and  was  read 
and  placed  on  file.  On  the  4th  of  August,  following,  a 
contract  for  the  work  of  the  foundation  wall  and  base- 
ment having  been  made  with  Messrs,  Adams,  Roberts, 
and  Jacobs,  the  necessary  preparations  were  completed 
in  season  for  laying  the  corner-stone  on  the  22d  of 
December,  and  the  ceremony  took  place  on  that  day, 
in  the  presence  of  a large  and  interested  concourse  of 
spectators. 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE, 


AND 


CONSTRUCTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


12 


PROCEEDINGS 


AT  THE 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


The  corner-stone  of  the  new  City  Hall  of  the  City  of 
Boston  was  laid  on  December  22,  1862,  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  Landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth. 

At  the  request  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings, 
the  Mayor  invited  the  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons  in  Massachusetts  to  participate  in  laying  the 
corner-stone  of  this  edifice.  The  invitation  was  most 
courteously  accepted,  and  the  Masonic  ceremonies 
formed  an  interesting  part  of  the  proceedings  on  this 
occasion. 

The  size  of  the  new  building  allowed  the  foundation 
and  front  wall  to  be  erected  and  prepared  for  the 
corner-stone,  while  the  city  government  occupied  the 
old  City  Hall.  A procession  was  therefore  formed, 
under  the  direction  of  the  City  Messenger,  in  the  room 
of  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen,  which  proceeded  to  the 
platform  erected  for  the  ceremonies,  in  the  following 
order : 


40 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Brigade  Band. 

Chief  of  Police. 

Committee  and  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings,  and  Architects 
of  the  new  City  Hall. 

Mayor. 

Grand  Master,  and  Officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 

Past  Mayors  and  Invited  Guests. 

Board  of  Aldermen. 

Common  Council. 

Other  Members  of  the  City  Government. 


The  exercises  commenced  with  the  following 

ADDRESS  OF  ALDERMAN  FRANCIS  RICHARDS, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings. 


Mr.  Mayor  : The  Committee  on  Public  Buildings 
of  the  City  of  Boston,  under  the  direction  of  the  City 
Council,  have  commenced  the  erection  of  a new  City 
Hall,  and  they  have  made  such  progress  that  it  becomes 
proper  at  this  time,  in  continuance  of  an  old  custom,  to 
deposit  some  mementoes  and  statistics  of  the  times  in 
which  its  erection  was  commenced.  The  Committee 
have  directed  me,  sir,  to  request  you,  as  the  head  of  the 
government  which  has  inaugurated  this  important  and 
necessary  improvement,  to  officiate  over  such  ceremo- 
nies as  you  may  deem  proper  for  this  occasion. 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


41 


ADDRESS  OF  MAYOR  WIGIITMAN. 

Mr.  Chairman  : In  conformity  with  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  of  the 
City  Council,  and  in  compliance  with  your  request,  we 
are  here  assembled  in  presence  of  the  members  of  the 
City  Council,  and  of  the  officers  of  the  Most  Worshipful 
Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  in  Massachusetts,  to  lay  the 
corner-stone  of  a building  to  be  erected  for  the  use  of 
the  Municipal  Government  of  the  city  of  Boston. 

Gentlemen  of  the  City  Council  : The  present 
occasion  is  one  of  peculiar  interest  to  you  as  the 
official  representatives  of  our  citizens,  inasmuch  as 
by  your  action  the  City  of  Boston,  for  the  first  time 
in  her  memorable  history,  is  to  lay  the  foundation, 
and  erect  an  edifice  for  the  various  departments  of 
her  government. 

The  full,  clear  and  comprehensive  report  of  the 
Committee,  made  on  the  19th  of  June  last  {City 
Document , No.  44,)  upon  this  subject,  received  your 
approving  votes  with  an  unanimity  as  generous  as 
it  was  deserved.  The  record  of  the  action  of  the 
various  City  Councils,  from  1838  to  1862,  presented 
an  array  of  facts,  which  not  only  show  the  wisdom 
but  the  necessity  of  your  prompt  and  decisive  action. 

There  are  some  interesting  facts  in  connection 
with  the  erection  of  the  town  houses  and  town 
halls  of  the  olden  time,  which  may  not  be  inappro- 
priate to  mention  upon  this  day,  the  anniversary  of 
13 


42 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


the  Landing  of  our  Pilgrim  Fathers,  and  upon  this 
occasion.  It  appears  that  for  nearly  thirty  years 
after  the  first  settlement  of  Boston,  in  1630,  although 
the  subject  of  a town  house  was  frequently  agitated, 
the  town  was  without  any  public  building  for  town 
purposes.  In  1656,  an  influential  and  wealthy  citizen, 
Capt.  Robert  Kayne,  died,  and  left  a considerable 
legacy ,*  in  his  will,  for  the  purpose  of  building 
a town  house. 

In  March,  1657,  a committee,  consisting  of  Captain 
Savage,  Mr.  Stodard,  Mr.  Howchin,  and  Mr.  Edward 
Hutchinson,  senior,  was  appointed  “ to  consider  of  ye 
modell  of  ye  Towne  House  to  be  built also  of  the 
expense  and  location,  and  to  take  up  subscriptions 
“ to  propagate  such  a building.”  I have  before  me 
the  original  subscription  paper  for  the  erection  of 
this  edifice,  with  the  following  heading  : 

“ Whereas,  thear  is  giuen  a Confiderable  fume  by  Capt : Kayn 
towards  the  Building  of  a towne  houfe  wch  fume  will  not  ataine 
the  Building  wch  he  mentioneth  in  his  Will,  now  Confidering  the 
vfefulnes  of  fuch  a Structure  wee  whofe  names  are  vnder  written, 
doe  ingage  our  felues  our  heyres  executors  for  to  giue  towards 
the  aboue  fd  hous  and  alfo  a Condit  in  the  Market  place,  the 
feuerall  fumes  vnder  written  ” : 


The  first  signature  is  Gov.  “Jo.  Endecott,  £2  10s.” 
Next  is  Deputy  Gov.  “ Ri.  Bellingham  in  country 
pay,  £10.”  Then  follows: 


*£300.  See  “Agreement  for  the  Town  House,”  Appendix. 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


43 


Edward  Tynge,  in  come,  10  00s  OOd. 

John  Evered,  in  goods  and  corne,  10  00s  OOd. 

Peter  Olliner,  in  goods  and  provisions,  10  00s  OOd. 

James  Olliner,  provided  thare  be  a cundit 

withall,  in  goods  and  provisions,  12  00s  OOd. 

Timothy  Atkins  will  give  in  hats,  5 00s  OOd. 

Hezekiah  Usher  will  pay  in  English  goods,  or 
equivalent,  twenty  poundes,  provizo  yt  ye 
market  house  be  erected  and  a cundit,  20  00s  OOd. 


In  this  manner  three  hundred  and  fifty-six  pounds 
were  contributed,  principally  in  goods,  by  one  hundred 
and  twenty-two  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  among 
whom  were  some  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the 
New  England  Puritans. 

The  result  of  this  effort  was  the  building  of  a town 
house  of  wood,  at  the  head  of  State  Street,  where  the 
old  State  House  now  stands,  between  the  years  1657 
and  1659,  at  a cost  of  six  hundred  and  eighty  pounds. 
This  building  was  consumed  in  the  great  fire  which 
occurred  in  1711.  During  the  following  year  (1712), 
another  town  house,  of  brick,  was  erected  in  the  same 
place  ; this  was  also  destroyed  by  fire  in  1747,  in  which 
“ the  ancient  books,  early  records,  and  other  valuable 
papers  were  burned.”  This  was  regarded  then,  as  now, 
as  a serious  calamity.  In  1748  the  building  now  known 
as  the  Old  State  House  was  erected  for  a town  house, 
but  appears  to  have  been  occupied  by  the  “ General 
Court  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  the  Supreme  and 
County  Courts.”  That  town  houses  were  generally 
used  for  the  courts  is  apparent  from  the  fact,  that  when, 
in  1742,  Peter  Faneuil,  a liberal  and  wealthy  merchant, 


44 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


erected  “ Faneuil  Hall,”  at  his  own  expense,  and  pre- 
sented it  to  the  town,  it  is  described  as  containing  not 
only  “ a large  and  sufficient  accommodation  for  a 
Market  place,  but  has  also  superadded  a spacious  and 
most  beautiful  Town  Hall  over  it,  and  several  other 
convenient  rooms  which  may  prove  very  beneficial  to 
the  Town  for  offices  or  otherwise.”  It  is  also  a remark- 
able fact,  that,  notwithstanding  that  he  proposed  to  build 
this  at  his  own  charge  and  make  a present  of  it  to  the 
town,  the  proposition  was  opposed  to  such  an  extent  at 
a town  meeting  held  in  Brattle  Street  Meeting-house 
in  July,  1740,  that  the  generous  offer  of  Mr.  Faneuil 
was  accepted  by  only  a majority  of  seven  votes  — three 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  being  in  the  affirmative,  and 
three  hundred  and  sixty  in  the  negative.  Singular  as 
this  vote  may  seem  to  have  been  which  decided  the 
erection  of  the  most  celebrated  building  connected  with 
our  national  history,  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  find 
similar  instances  of  the  peculiarities  of  our  people  even 
in  the  present  day. 

Faneuil  Hall  appears  to  have  been  the  first  actual 
town  house,  as  it  was  also  the  first  city  hall,  in  Boston. 
From  1742  until  1822,  a period  of  eighty  years,  the 
rooms  were  used  by  the  selectmen,  town  clerk,  treasurer, 
and  other  town  officers,  while  the  town  meetings  were 
held  in  the  main  hall.  It  was  here  that  the  first  city 
government  vras  organized,  in  May,  1822,  and  it  con- 
tinued to  be  occupied  by  the  city  officers  until  Sep- 

i 

tember  17,  1830,  when  the  Old  State  House  was 
remodelled  and  dedicated  as  “ City  Hall.” 

In  a few  years,  however,  it  was  found  that  “ the 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


45 


inconveniences  to  which  the  citizens  generally,  as  well 
as  the  municipal  officers,  were  exposed  by  the  existing 
arrangements,  — the  constant  and  great  danger  to  im- 
portant documents  and  records  from  fire,  and  the  insuf- 
ficient space  allotted  to  many  of  the  officers  for  the 
transaction  of  the  business  of  their  respective  depart- 
ments,” — could  only  be  remedied  by  the  erection  of  a 
commodious  and  suitable  building.  This  Avas  reported 
by  Mayor  Eliot  in  May,  1838,  and  it  was  then  proposed 
to  erect  “ a handsome,  well  lighted,  and  well  ventilated 
building  ” upon  this  spot,  at  an  estimated  cost  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  Mayor  and  Aldermen 
were,  however,  overruled  by  the  Common  Council  in 
relation  to  a new  building,  and  finally,  in  July,  1840, 
they  concurred  in  an  order  to  alter  the  old  Courl  House 
into  a City  Hall,  at  an  estimated  expense  of  $14,475. 
Although  the  alterations  were  skilfully  and  admirably 
made,  the  size  of  the  building  was  only  adapted  to  the 
city  government  at  that  time,  and  consequently,  within 
a few  years,  the  same  inconveniences,  from  restricted 
accommodations,  began  to  be  experienced,  which  had 
caused  the  removal  from  the  former  building. 

These  difficulties  continued  to  increase,  and  year 
after  year,  since  1850,  the  most  favorable  reports  have 
been  made,  plans,  specifications,  and  estimates  have 
been  obtained,  and  each  succeeding  city  government  has 
appeared  to  realize  more  and  more  the  need  of  a City 
Hall  worthy  of  a great  and  prosperous  municipality. 
Since  this  building  we  are  now  superseding  was  first 
occupied  for  a City  Hall,  the  assessed  valuation  of 
Boston  has  increased  from  ninety-four  and  one  half 

14 


46 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


millions  in  1840,  to  three  hundred  and  sixteen  millions 
in  1862  In  this  progress  of  events,  the  increase  in 
the  population  and  wealth  of  the  city  has  added  largely 
to  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  its  officers. 

To  meet  these  exigencies,  new  departments  and  offi- 
cers have  been  created,  and  old  departments  have  been 
reorganized  and  extended.  Among  the  new  depart- 
ments are  the  Police,  Water  Commissioners,  Directors 
of  Public  Institutions,  Commissioners  of  Public  Lands, 
Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  and  Trustees  of  Mount 
Hope  Cemetery.  In  addition  to  these  are  the  following 
officers:  City  Engineer,  City  Physician,  Water  Regis- 
trar, City  Registrar,  Clerk  of  Committees  and  Mayor’s 
Clerk ; Superintendents  of  Internal  Health,  Public 
Lands,  Public  Buildings,  Public  Schools,  Telegraphic 
Fire  Alarm,  and  of  Lamps ; all  of  whom,  except  the 
Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  require  offices  for  the 
transaction  of  the  public  business.  In  all  the  old 
departments,  the  increase  of  labor  has  been  very  great, 
particularly  in  those  of  the  City  Clerk,  Treasurer,  Au- 
ditor, and  Assessors,  and  consequently  a corresponding 
increase  in  the  number  of  assistants  and  clerks  has 
been  required. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  self-evident  that  the 
accommodations  furnished  in  the  present  City  Hall  are 
now,  and  have  long  been,  entirely  inadequate  for  the 
proper  performance  of  the  public  duties.  There  are 
forty-seven  standing  committees  of  the  City  Council, 
and  but  two  committee  rooms  in  the  City  Hall,  so  that 
the  offices  of  the  City  Clerk,  of  the  several  Superin- 
tendents, and  even  that  of  the  Mayor,  are  obliged  to  be 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


47 


used  for  the  meetings  of  the  committees.  The  rooms 
are  generally  small,  badly  lighted,  and  without  ventila- 
tion. One  of  them  is  occupied  by  the  recording  assist- 
ants to  the  City  Clerk ; another  assistant  is  located  in 
the  public  anteroom  used  by  reporters  and  other  per- 
sons, while  the  City  Clerk  and  Mayor’s  Clerk  have  their 
desks  in  the  room  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  The 
Superintendents  of  Public  Lands  and  of  Sewers,  with 
their  clerks,  are  crowded  into  another,  the  Superintend- 
ents of  Streets  and  of  Internal  Health,  with  two  clerks, 
attend  to  their  office  duties  in  an  apartment  which 
scarcely  allows  room  enough  for  the  desks  of  the  occu- 
pants, while  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings 
and  Clerk  of  Committees  have  even  worse  accommo- 
dations ; and  I am  confident,  that  if  any  one  of  our 
merchants,  who  has  deemed  this  building  unnecessary, 
would  go  through  the  offices  in  the  present  City  Hall, 
he  would  not  only  change  his  opinion,  but  would  be 
satisfied  that  the  accommodations  afforded  to  the  chief 
recording  officer  of  our  city  are  inferior  to  those  for 
the  clerks  in  his  own  store,  and  that  the  City  Treas- 
urer, the  receiver  and  disburser  of  six  or  seven  millions 
of  dollars  annually,  is  crowded  with  his  clerks,  book- 
keepers, and  tellers  into  a single  room,  which,  for  size 
and  inconvenience,  probably,  could  not  be  equalled  by 
that  of  any  other  city  treasurer  in  the  Union.  But  the 
City  Treasurer  is  not  the  only  sufferer  from  this  state 
of  things ; the  citizens,  on  the  monthly  pay-days,  are 
obliged  to  wait  outside  the  office  in  the  cold,  and  some- 
times snow  and  rain,  for  their  turn  to  enter  and  receive 
their  money,  which  is  not  only  exceedingly  annoying, 


48 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


but  is  an  unnecessary  waste  of  time.  This  would  be 
scarcely  tolerated  in  a country  town  in  New  England, 
and  it  is  certainly  unworthy  of  the  wealth  and  reputa- 
tion of  Boston. 

But  it  may  be  asked,  admitting  all  this  to  be  correct, 
was  it  expedient  to  erect  a new  City  Hall  at  this  time, 
while  the  country  was  struggling  under  the  pressure  of 
a disastrous  war?  It  is  too  true  that  we  are  passing 
through  a war  terrible  in  its  consequences,  and  which 
may  well  make  the  stoutest  heart  falter  at  the  prospect 
before  us,  as  to  the  future  of  our  country.  But  are  not 
other  works  and  enterprises,  both  public  and  private, 
proceeded  with  ? Are  we  to  sit  down  in  despair,  as  if 
this  war  was  to  culminate  in  a dissolution  of  the  Union, 
and  the  result  of  it  was  to  determine  whether  or  not 
our  city  was  to  be  destroyed  by  an  earthquake  ? Indi- 
viduals do  not  so  regard  it.  Witness  the  magnificent 
warehouses,  the  sumptuous  stores,  and  the  palatial  resi- 
dences with  which  they  are  bordering  our  streets  and 
avenues.  Nor  is  there  any  demurrer  on  the  part  of  our 
citizens  to  the  vast  sums  appropriated  and  expending 
upon  the  Public  Garden,  the  City  Hospital,  the  City 
Stables,  and  other  public  improvements,  not  one  of 
which  bears  any  comparison,  in  importance,  to  the  City 
Hall.  The  latter  is  to  provide  for  the  exigencies  of  the 
public  business ; the  former  are  for  ornament,  philan- 
thropy, or  convenience.  Even  the  war  itself  has  fur- 
nished additional  reasons  for  its  erection,  inasmuch  as  it 
has  been  the  cause  of  adding  more  than  a million  of 
dollars  to  the  disbursements  from  the  city  treasury 
within  the  last  six  months,  and  it  has  also  required  the 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE.  49 

organization  of  a new  department,  both  ministerial  and 
financial,  and  of  a most  laborious  character,  to  disburse 
the  State  aid  to  the  families  of  our  soldiers. 

By  procrastinating  its  erection  even  pecuniary  inter- 
ests are  sacrificed ; because  at  no  previous  time  since 
the  city  was  chartered  has  money  been  so  abundant,  or 
could  be  obtained  on  such  favorable  terms ; and  the 
advantage  of  making  contracts  at  this  time  might  not 
again  occur  for  many  years.  Besides,  we  must  take 
into  consideration  the  fact,  that  even  if  the  war  was  to 
be  closed  forthwith,  a long  time  must  elapse  before  the 
city  would  be  in  any  better  condition  to  bear  the 
expense ; for,  if  we  feel  the  pressure  during  the  issue 
of  so  much  paper  currency  by  the  government,  what 
will  hereafter  be  our  condition  when,  in  common  with 
other  municipalities,  we  are  called  upon  to  furnish  the 
means  for  its  redemption?  Could  we  then  have  de- 
ferred the  building  of  a City  Hall  for  ten  or  twenty 
)ears  longer,  without  compromising  the  public  inter- 
ests to  a far  greater  extent  than  the  present  expen- 
diture of  $160,000,  or  even  $'200,000?  To-day  the 
public  archives  of  the  city,  belonging  to  many  of  its 
departments,  are  exposed  to  remediless  loss  by  fire 
and  other  casualties,  in  ordinary  buildings,  rented, 
from  their  necessary  location  in  this  vicinity,  at  high 
if  not  exorbitant  rents.  The  most  valuable  are  kept  in 
safes,  but  the  great  mass  of  papers  and  public  docu- 
ments have  no  proper  place  for  their  security  or  preser- 
vation. Is  not  this  discreditable  to  a city  which  is 
the  most  wealthy,  in  proportion  to  its  size,  of  any  in 
the  world  ? 


15 


50 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


There  is  an  astonishing  apathy,  often  amounting  to 
culpable  neglect,  in  regard  to  the  preservation  of  public 
papers.  As  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Streets,  in 
1858,  I accidentally  learned  that  all  the  invaluable  plans 
in  relation  to  streets  and  the  public  domain,  involving 
rights,  titles,  and  legal  questions  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance, the  loss  or  destruction  of  which  would  be  irreme- 
diable in  many  cases,  while  the  expense  of  restoring 
others  by  new  surveys  would  be  more  than  the  whole 
cost  of  a City  Hall,  had  not  been  kept  in  any  place  of 
security  except  that  afforded  by  the  City  Engineer’s 
office,  which  was  then  in  the  upper  rooms  of  a store  on 
Washington  Street.  In  1859,  I brought  this  subject  to 
the  attention  of  the  government,  and  by  personal  effort 
obtained  the  erection  of  the  present  fire-proof  office  and 
repository,  over  the  office  of  the  Registry  of  Deeds. 

For  the  want  of  proper  places  for  their  preservation, 
our  historical  records  and  files  of  papers  have  been  lost 
to  a deplorable  extent.  Last  year  I purchased  for  the 
city,  from  the  estate  of  a deceased  antiquarian,  nearly 
two  hundred  valuable  papers,  originally  belonging  to 
the  official  files  of  the  town,  dated  from  1680  to  1775, 
including  nearly  all  the  official  papers  in  relation  to  the 
erection  of  Faneuil  Hall,  and  the  building  of  Long 
Wharf.  These  papers  must  have  been  abstracted 
many  years  ago,  as  our  present  City  Clerk  has  no 
knowledge  of  their  ever  having  been  in  his  possession  ; 
and  it  is  a remarkable  fact  that  there  is  scarcely  a 
paper  of  any  historical  interest,  previous  to  1800,  now 
remaining  upon  our  files.  Those  which  remain,  and 
the  printed  documents  which  .have  been  preserved, 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


51 


are  arranged  in  wood  cases  around  the  walls  of  the 
committee  rooms,  exposed  to  loss  by  tire  at  any  time. 

To  persons  unconnected  with  public  affairs,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  appreciate  the  exceeding  trouble  and  loss  of 
time,  from  a want  of  room  to  arrange  the  documents 
belonging  to  a department  for  convenient  reference. 
There  is  not  an  officer  in  the  city  government  that  does 
not  daily  and  hourly  suffer  from  this  cause,  and  the 
number  of  valuable  papers  which  are  thus  mislaid  or 
lost  causes  great  annoyance. 

There  is  another  consideration  which  is  worthy  of  our 
attention.  It  is  that  the  erection  of  this  City  Hall  is  to 
be  commended  on  the  ground  of  economy,  and  as  a 
means  of  reducing  the  taxes  upon  our  citizens.  There 
are  now  one  half  of  the  departments  located  outside  of 
the  present  City  Hall ; the  rent  of  the  premises  they 
occupy  is  eight  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  As  the 
amount  appropriated  for  the  new  building  ($160,000) 
is  to  be  obtained  by  a loan  for  twenty  years  at  five  per 
cent,  interest,  and  as  these  bonds  command  from  thir- 
teen per  cent,  to  fifteen  per  cent,  advance,  the  interest 
is  reduced  to  less  than  four  and  one-half  per  cent.;  and 
amounts  to  but  little  over  $7,000  per  annum,  — which 
is  from  $800  to  1,000  less  than  is  now  paid  for  rents. 
The  principal  of  the  loan,  or  cost  of  the  building,  does  not 
form  a part  of  the  annual  city  tax , but  is  gradually  pro- 
vided for  from  sales  of  public  property  and  other 
receipts,  deposited  from  time  to  time  in  the  Sinking 
Fund,  to  meet  the  bonds  at  maturity. 

But  this  is  not  the  only  saving.  It  appears  from  the 
Auditor’s  books,  that  during  ten  years,  from  1852  to 


52 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


1862,  the  expenditures  for  repairs,  alterations,  and 
improvements  on  the  present  City  Hall  amount  to 
$16,504.24,  to  which  is  to  be  added  an  unexpended 
appropriation  of  $4,000  to  repair  the  roof,  being  a 
total  of  $20,000,  or  an  average  of  $2,000  per  annum. 
Within  the  same  time  there  has  also  been  expended 
for  repairing  and  fitting  up  rented  offices  $7,264.96, 
and  for  safes  for  these  offices,  $3,144.89  = 10,409.85  ; 
which  is  an  average  of  more  than  $1,000  per  annum. 
We  have  thus  a grand  total  of  $30,000,  or  $3,000  per 
annum,  which  average  was  not  likely  to  be  diminished 
in  the  future  ; and  I believe  it  will  be  no  more  than  a 
fair  statement  to  say,  that  under  the  present  arrange- 
ment for  the  rents  and  repairs  of  the  public  offices, 
the  citizens  are  taxed  $11,000  per  annum,  while  the 
interest  on  the  capital  to  be  invested  in  the  new  City 
Hall  will  not  exceed  $7,500. 

I have  thus,  gentlemen,  endeavored  to  present  some 
of  the  facts  and  reasons  which,  in  your  judgment,  and 
in  my  own  opinion,  w’ere  sufficient  to  justify  the 
erection  of  a City  Hall  at  this  time.  In  a city  like 
this,  increasing  so  rapidly  in  wealth  and  population, 
public  improvements  cannot  remain  stationary.  When, 
therefore,  we  consider  the  vast  expenditures  which 
have  been  made  in  extending  the  area  of  our  territory 
on  the  South  Bay,  and  the  Neck  lands;  in  laying 
out  new  avenues,  and  widening  and  extending  old 
streets;  in  building  the  most  approved  correctional 
and  eleemosynary  institutions  ; in  erecting  spacious  and 
admirably  arranged  school-houses ; in  founding  and 
supporting  a public  library,  in  every  respect  worthy 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


53 


of  the  Athens  of  America ; and  in  establishing  a 
City  Hospital  destined  to  become  one  of  the  most 
beneficial  if  not  beautiful  of  our  public  institutions, 
we  cannot  but  be  impressed  with  the  conviction  that 
our  action  in  the  present  instance  has  been  in  strict 
conformity  with  that  solemn  oath  of  office  we  have 
each  and  all  of  us  taken,  to  “ faithfully  and  impar- 
tially discharge  and  perform  all  the  duties  incumbent 
upon  us,  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge  and  ability.” 

Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master:  I herewith  pre- 
sent to  you  a metallic  box  containing  an  engraved 
plate,  historical  documents,  and  other  appropriate 
articles,  to  be  deposited  by  you  in  this  corner-stone, 
according  to  the  usages  of  your  ancient  order. 

The  Masonic  Ceremonies  were  then  commenced  with 
some  preliminary  remarks  by  the  Grand  Master,  and 
the  invocation  of  the  Divine  Blessing,  by  the  Grand 
Chaplain,  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Greenwood.* 


* The  Brethren  present  were  : 

M.  W.  William  D.  Coolidge,  Grand  Master. 

R.  W.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  Deputy  G.  Master. 

R.  W.  Winslow  Lewis,  Senior  G.  Warden. 

R.  W.  Peter  C.  Jones,  Junior  G.  Warden. 

W.  C.  C.  Dame,  G.  Treasurer. 

W.  Charles  W.  Moore,  G.  Secretary. 

W.  T.  J.  Greenwood,  G.  Chaplain. 

W.  William  II.  Sampson,  Senior  G.  Deacon. 

W.  C.  J.  Cleveland,  Junior  G.  Deacon. 

W.  William  D.  Stratton,  G.  Marshal. 

W.  Isaac  Cary,  J.  W.  Barton,  G.  Stewards. 

W.  Luther  L.  Tarbell,  G.  Tyler. 

Also  R.  W.  Benj.  Dean,  of  Boston,  Wm.  Sutton,  of  Danvers,  and  others. 
16 


54 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


PRAYER. 

Supreme  Architect  of  the  Universe  ! Under  thy 
bending  heavens,  the  broad  canopy  that  covers  all 
our  earthly  interests,  and  earthly  hopes,  we  come  to 
discharge  the  appropriate  duties  of  the  occasion  which 
has  called  us  here. 

We  feel  it  meet,  and  needful  for  us,  that  we  should 
first  of  all  invoke  thy  blessing  upon  the  transactions 
of  the  hour. 

We  come,  by  appropriate  ceremony,  agreeably  to  the 
usages  of  our  ancient  and  cherished  institution,  to  lay 
the  corner-stone  of  an  edifice  here  to  be  erected,  for 
the  use  of  this  city  and  the  convenience  of  its  civil 
government.  May  thy  blessing  attend  the  rite,  and 
thine  approval  sanction  what  we  do. 

We  acknowledge  our  dependence  upon  thee!  and 
we  bless  thee  that  we  are  dependent,  as  upon  the 
Father  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh! 

From  early  time  thy  prospering  smile  has  rested 
upon  our  city,  and  upon  our  land.  We  have  enjoyed 
a goodly  heritage.  The  feeble  have  become  strong, 
and  the  weak  have  become  mighty ! And  now,  as 
indicated  by  their  increasing  prosperity  and  enlarge- 
ment, thou  hast  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  this  people 
to  rear  upon  this  spot  another  edifice,  for  their  better 
accommodation  in  the  discharge  of  the  official  duties 
of  those  who  are  called  by  the  city’s  voice  to  places 
of  trust  and  responsibility,  as  the  public  servants. 


LAYING  Of'  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


55 


Let  the  walls  of  the  building  rise  upon  this  founda- 
tion-stone, under  thy  fostering  care.  And  if  it  please 
thee,  Father,  let  those  who  are  engaged  in  its  erection, 
be  preserved  in  health  and  free  from  all  accident  and 
harm,  even  till  the  cap-stone  shall  crown  it,  amid  shout- 
ings of  joy,  and  the  structure  stands  an  ornament  and 
an  honor  to  the  city. 

And  here,  Great  God  ! let  the  building  remain  under 
the  blessed  mgis  of  our  free  institutions,  to  subserve  the 
public  interests  undisturbed,  ever  to  coming  generations. 
In  the  midst  of  the  mutations  of  time,  and  the  changes 
of  circumstance,  let  thy  blessing,  we  pray  thee,  rest 
upon  this  goodly  city,  for  its  olden  memories  and  its 
present  devotion ; upon  all  its  interests,  civil,  religious, 
artisan,  commercial,  and  educational,  and  may  the  influ- 
ence of  each  and  all  tend  to  public  good. 

Bless,  O God,  bless  abundantly  the  civil  government 
of  this  city  in  its  present  and  future  labors  ! Give  thy 
rich  blessing  to  the  retiring  and  to  the  incoming  Chief 
Magistrate  thereof ; the  outgoing,  give  the  blessing 
which  belongs  to  him,  for  the  exceeding  faithfulness 
and  devotion  with  Avhich  his  many  and  arduous  duties 
have  been  performed ; and  the  incoming,  inspire  with 
like  faithfulness  and  devotion  to  duty,  which  is  the 
greatest  blessing  we  can  crave  for  his  official  labors. 
Let  all  who  are  or  may  be  associated  with  them,  receive 
the  blessing  of  thine  approval  upon  their  work,  and  let 
them  thus  be  strengthened  and  stimulated  to  still  more 
earnest  labors  for  the  common  good ! 

Bless,  we  beseech  thee,  our  ancient  and  glorious 
Commonwealth.  May  thy  grace  be  imparted  very 


56 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


largely  to  its  Chief  Magistrate,  and  all  who  are  associ- 
ated with  him  in  framing  or  administering  the  laws. 
Let  fidelity  to  the  common  good  characterize  all  their 
labors,  and  so  let  them, — and  the  people  through  them, 
— receive  constant  favor  from  thy  hand ! 

But  while  we  are  here,  Great  God  ! in  the  midst  of 
the  hum  of  industry,  and  the  signs  of  prosperity  all 
around  us,  for  the  discharge  of  a pleasing  duty,  let  us 
not  forget,  we  pray  thee,  our  dear  country,  under  thy 
grace  the  fountain  of  all  our  blessings,  now  torn  and 
distracted  by  civil  discord  and  strife.  Man’s  folly, 
ingratitude,  and  wickedness  stand  darkly  against  the 
prospering  smile  of  God ! Madness  rides  upon  the 
wings  of  the  hour,  and  peril  lurks  in  all  our  ways ! 
Under  the  fearful  cloud  that  has  fallen  around  us,  and 
amidst  the  fiery  tempest  of  war  that  hurtles  through 
the  land,  thou  alone  canst  be  our  helper ! Thou  alone 
art  our  hope ! Oh,  stretch  over  our  land  the  arm  of 
thine  Almighty  power  ! Lift  over  our  bleeding  country 
the  availing  shield  of  thy  protection  and  care ! As 
thou  wast  with  the  fathers  in  the  day  of  their  need,  be 
now  the  gracious  helper  of  their  sons. 

Let  thy  hand  roll  away  the  cloud  that  darkens  our 
political  heavens,  and  thy  spirit  breathe  speedy  peace 
through  all  our  borders ! To  this  end  bless  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  and  all  who  are  associated 
with  him  in  our  National  Government,  and  councils. 
Give  them  very  largely  of  thy  wisdom,  and  prudence  to 
guide  and  direct  the  affairs  of  State  in  this  momentous 
crisis  which  we  are  called  to  meet ; that  the  Union 
and  Harmony  of  the  States  may  be  restored ; the 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


57 


glorious  Constitution  from  our  fathers  exert  its  mild 
and  equal  sway  over  all,  unweakened,  unimpaired,  and 
our  dear  country  still  hold  on,  and  forever,  her  way  of 
advancing  greatness  and  glory,  under  the  benediction 
of  our  God,  — the  pride  of  our  hearts,  and  the  hope  of 
the  nations  of  the  earth ! Let  rebellion,  and  faction, 
and  discord  cease  from  our  midst,  and  enable  us  now 
and  henceforth  to  act  as  in  some  degree  grateful  for 
the  unspeakable  blessings  thou  hast  conferred  upon  us, 
moving  under  the  hallowed  beamings  of  the  Religion 
of  Jesus,  toward  the  degree  of  perfectibility  we  may 
attain  ! 

O God  our  Father  ! remember  in  thy  tender  mercy 
the  thousands  of  our  youth  who  have  gone  out  from 
their  happy  homes  to  endure  the  privations  of  the 
camp  and  to  meet  the  perils  of  the  battle-field,  in  con- 
tending for  the  preservation  of  the  constitution,  laws, 
institutions,  and  homes  of  our  land ! Hold  over  them 
the  shield  of  thy  protection,  and  be  thou  their  helper  in 
every  emergency  they  are  called  to  meet ; and  restore 
them  speedily,  we  pray  thee,  under  the  mild  beamings 
of  returning  peace,  to  the  homes  and  hearts  that  are 
waiting  for  them ! 

Bless,  O God,  as  thou  alone  hast  the  power  to  bless, 
the  desolated  homes,  and  the  thousands  of  bleeding 
hearts  that  have  been,  or  may  be  called  to  make  the 
terrible  sacrifice  of  yielding  up  their  loved  ones  on  the 
bloody  altar  of  this  fearful  strife ! Tenderly  compas- 
sionate their  condition,  and  help  them  to  bear  all  bur- 
dens, still  trusting  in  thee  for  that  issue,  which  shall 
yet  come,  in  which  thy  ways  shall  be  vindicated,  and 

17 


58 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


all  their  sorrows  be  turned  into  joy,  through  him  that 
bindeth  up  the  broken-hearted  ! 

And  now,  blessed  Father,  we  again  invoke  thy  favor 
on  the  occasion  which  has  gathered  us.  Regard,  in  thy 
great  kindness,  the  work  which  is  here  performed. 
Graciously  smile  upon  this  Grand  Lodge  of  our  order. 
May  its  officers  guide  in  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
brotherly  love.  May  its  subordinates,  and  our  whole 
fraternity  throughout  the  globe,  receive  that  blessing 
from  thee  which  shall  make  them  an  instrument  in  thy 
hand  for  the  promotion  of  the  excellent  graces  and 
kindly  amenities  of  life  among  men,  and  so  let  thy 
great  name  be  glorified  in  all  our  borders ! 

Let  this  building  rise  in  its  beauty  and  grandeur  to 
its  completion.  Let  the  light  of  Christian  Truth  be 
spread,  and  be  borne  to  the  hearts  of  the  children  of 
men  everywhere,  until  all  mankind  shall  be  baptized 
into  its  holy  spirit,  and  turned  from  all  error  into  all 
needed  truth ; — until  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee 
shall  bow  and  every  tongue  confess  that  he  is  Lord  to 
the  glory  of  God  the  Father! 

Lead  us  in  the  way  in  which  thou  wouldst  have  us  to 
go,  through  all  time,  and  when  our  brief  pilgrimage  of 
mortality  is  ended,  in  forgiveness  of  all  our  sins,  bring 
us,  and  in  thine  own  good  time,  all  thy  children  home 
to  the  great  temple  of  immortal  light  and  love,  to  go  no 
more  out  forever  and  forever,  and  through  Jesus,  our 
constituted  Redeemer,  accept  our  praises  evermore. 
Amen. 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


59 


After  appropriate  music  by  the  band,  C.  C.  Dame, 
Grand  Treasurer,  read  the  description  of  the  contents 
of  the  box,  which  was  then  placed  in  the  receptacle 
prepared  for  it,  and  the  corner-stone  lowered  into  its 
place  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  building.  The  It. 
W.  Deputy  Grand  Master  and  Senior  and  Junior  Grand 
Wardens  applied  the  proper  jewels  of  their  office,  the 
square,  the  level  and  the  plumb,  and  each  declared  that 
the  craftsmen  had  done  their  duty.  The  Grand  Master 
then  striking  three  times  upon  the  stone  with  his  gavel, 
said,  “ I find  this  foundation-stone  well  laid,  true  and 
trusty,  and  in  conformity  with  the  plan,  in  peace,  love, 
and  harmony.” 

Deputy  Grand  Master,  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  then 
poured  corn  upon  the  stone  from  a golden  cornucopia, 
saying,  “ May  the  health  of  the  workmen  employed  in 
this  undertaking  be  preserved  to  them,  and  may  the 
Supreme  Grand  Architect  bless  and  prosper  their 
labors.”  Senior  Grand  Warden,  Winslow  Lewis, 
next  poured  wine  from  a silver  vase  upon  the  stone, 
saying,  “ May  plenty  be  showered  down  upon  the 
people,  and  may  the  blessing  of  the  bounteous  Giver 
of  all  good  rest  upon  this  place.”  The  Junior 
Grand  Warden,  Peter  C.  Jones,  followed  by  pouring 
oil  upon  the  stone  with  a similar  benediction.  The 
Grand  Master  then  said : “ May  corn,  wine,  and  oil, 
and  all  the  necessaries  of  life  abound  among  this 
people,  and  may  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  be 
upon  this  undertaking,  and  may  the  workmen  be 
blessed  while  engaged  on  it,  and  may  the  structure 
here  to  be  erected  be  preserved  to  the  latest  ages, 


60 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


and  may  it  promote  the  object  for  which  it  is  designed.” 
The  audience  then  joined  in  singing  Old  Hundred,  after 
which  the  Grand  Master  addressed  the  Mayor  and  City 
Government  as  follows : 

ADDRESS  OF  GRAND  MASTER  W.  D.  COOLIDGE. 

Mr.  Mayor  and  Gentlemen  of  the  City  Council: 
In  compliance  with  your  invitation,  and  in  conformity 
to  ancient  masonic  usage,  we  have  now  laid  the  corner- 
stone of  this  new  City  Hall,  and  I have  pronounced 
the  foundation-stone  well  laid,  true  and  trusty.  Under 
your  special  care,  and  that  of  your  successors,  let  this 
edifice  arise  in  all  its  magnificent  proportions  to  be 
an  ornament  to  the  city  and  a convenience  to  the 
members  of  its  government,  and  the  pride  and  honor 
of  her  citizens. 

On  this  twenty-second  day  of  December  our  minds 
naturally  go  back  to  the  time  when  our  forefathers 
landed  at  Plymouth.  This  beautiful  structure  is  an 
evidence  of  the  consummate  skill  and  ability  of  our 
architects  and  builders.  Let  it  rise  in  its  architectural 
beauty  to  be  in  the  sight  of  this  people  a joy  forever. 

The  Mayor  then  continued  his  Address,  as  follows : 

Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master:  I thank  you  and 
the  Most  Worthy  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons,  for  the  valuable  and  interesting  services  you 
have  performed  on  this  occasion.  The  invitation  you  so 
kindly  accepted  was  tendered  from  a profound  respect 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


61 


for  your  ancient  and  honored  institution,  and  I trust 
that  hereafter,  when  this  building  shall  be  completed 
and  become  the  pride  of  our  city,  your  participation 
in  the  laying  of  this  corner-stone  will  be  regarded  by 
you  with  pleasure  and  satisfaction. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee 
on  Public  Buildings  : Having  thus  performed  a duty 
most  gratifying  to  me,  both  personally  and  officially,  I 
am  happy  to  know  that  so  many  of  the  members  of  the 
Committee  are  to  remain  in  the  City  Council  during  the 
ensuing  year,  and  I have  reason  to  believe  that  we  may 
safely  intrust  to  them,  and  to  our  successors,  the  com- 
pletion of  a work  which  has  been  this  day  so  happily 
inaugurated.  And,  Mr.  Chairman,  permit  me  to  express 
my  sincere  regret  that  you,  to  whom  the  city  is  so  much 
indebted  for  the  consummation  of  this  great  public 
improvement,  are  not  to  have  any  official  supervision 
over  its  erection,  but  — as  these  stones  are  placed  one 
upon  the  other,  and  as  the  beautiful  design  of  the  archi- 
tect is  developed  ; as  its  walls  and  columns  and  cor- 
nices are  finished  — let  it  be  your  satisfaction,  as  it  will 
be  mine,  to  feel  that  our  humble  efforts  were  instru- 
mental in  adorning  our  loved  city  with  an  edifice  so 
graceful  in  its  architectural  proportions,  and  so  per- 
fectly adapted  to  the  present  and  future  wants  of  the 
government.  And  if  now  our  hearts  are  saddened  at 
the  present  gloomy  condition  of  our  country,  let  us  still 
cherish  the  hope  that  when  these  Avails  shall  be  crowned 
with  its  towering  dome,  Ave  may  see  from  the  flagstaff 

upon  its  summit  the  glorious  flag  of  our  nation  waving 
18 


62 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


over  it  as  the  emblem  of  a restored  and  reunited 
country. 

The  band  then  played  the  “ Star-Spangled  Banner,” 
and  the  ceremonies  were  concluded  with  a benediction 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Greenwood. 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


63 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BOX,  PLATE,  AND  OTHER  ARTICLES 
DEPOSITED  UNDER  THE  CORNER-STONE  OF  THE  NEW 
CITY  HALL. 

The  box  is  made  of  sheet-copper,  tinned  inside  and 
outside,  and  is  thirteen  inches  square  by  four  inches 
in  height.  In  this  box  the  annexed  list  of  articles 
are  enclosed : 

1.  A silver  plate,  measuring  ten  and  three-fourths  inches  by 
seven  and  three-fourths  inches,  upon  which  the  following  is 
engraved : 


THIS  CORNER-STONE  OF  A BUILDING, 


FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE  VARIOUS  DEPARTMENTS  OF  THE 


<$ 0 tnmt nu  u t of  t ft*  (Situ  of  o 0 1 o w , 


Was  laid  on  the  22 d day  of  December , 1862, 

BY  HIS  HONOR, 

JOSEPH  XI.  Wia-HTJM^AJST,  Mayor 

Assisted  by  the 


MOST  WORSHIPFUL  GRAND  LODGE  OF  FREEMASONS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 
M.  W.  William  D.  Coolidge,  G.  Master. 


City  Government  for  18  6 2. 

Mayor. 

JOSEPH  MILNER  WIGHTMAN. 

Aldermen. 


Thomas  P.  Rich, 
Thomas  C.  Amory,  Jr., 
James  L.  Hanson, 
Samuel  R.  Spinney, 
George  W.  Parmenter, 
John  F.  Pray, 


Elisha  T.  Wilson, 
Francis  Richards, 
Joseph  L.  IIensiiaw, 
Joseph  F.  Paul, 
Calvin  A.  Richards, 
Otis  Norcross. 


64 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Common  Council. 
JOSHUA  D.  BALL,  President. 


John  W.  Leighton, 
Cornelius  Murpiiy, 
Dennis  Bonner, 
Matthew  Keany, 
Albert  Bowker, 
Richard  Beeching, 
George  Hinman, 
Augustus  Reed, 

John  C.  Tucker, 
Philip  O’Donnell, 
Bernard  Cullen, 

John  Glancy, 

Seldon  Crockett, 
Elias  E.  Davison, 
Benjamin  F.  Edmands. 
Daniel  H.  Whitney, 
John  S.  Pear, 

Joseph  A.  Brown, 
Linus  M.  Child, 
Michael  F.  Wells, 
Daniel  Davies, 
William  E.  Bicknell, 
George  P.  Clapp, 
George  0.  Shattuck, 


Jabez  Frederick, 
Charles  J.  McCarthy, 
James  Riley, 

Henry  W.  Foley, 
Joseph  Buckley, 

John  S.  Tyler, 

Morris  C.  Fitch, 
Winsor  Hatch,  2d, 
William  Carpenter, 
Franklin  H.  Sprague, 
Samuel  G.  Bowdlear, 
William  H.  Ireland, 
Joel  Richards, 

Loring  B.  Barnes, 
Cyrus  Hicks, 

Horace  B.  Fisher, 
William  B.  Fowle,  Jr., 
Joshua  D.  Ball, 

John  C.  Fallon, 

Lucius  A.  Cutler, 
Sumner  Crosby, 

George  W.  Sprague, 
Henry  A.  Drake, 
Stanley  Gore. 


Committee  on  Public  Buildings. 


Francis  Richards, 
Samuel  R.  Spinney, 
Joseph  F.  Paul, 
Daniel  Davies, 


John  C.  Tucker, 
John  W.  Leighton, 
John  C.  Fallon, 
George  W.  Sprague. 


Gridley  J.  F.  Bryant  and  Arthur  Gilman,  Architects. 


Samuel  C.  Nottage,  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings. 
Samuel  F.  McCleary,  City  Clerk. 

D.  Briscoe,  Engraver. 


2.  Message  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  Congress, 
December,  1862. 

3.  Reports  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury,  of  War,  Navy, 
and  Interior,  1862. 

4.  Massachusetts  Register,  1862. 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 


65 


5.  City  Charter  and  City  Ordinances. 

6.  Boston  Municipal  Register  for  1862. 

7.  Map  of  the  City  of  Boston,  revised  to  1861. 

8.  Inaugural  Address  of  the  Mayor,  January  6,  1862. 

9.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  new  City  Hall,  1862. 

10.  Report  of  Committee  on  Boston  Volunteers,  1862. 

11.  Annual  Report  of  Boston  Board  of  Trade,  1862. 

12.  Two  Semi-Annnal  Reports  of  the  Superintendent  of  Schools, 

1862. 

13.  Annual  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  1862. 

14.  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Police,  1862. 

15.  Annual  Report  of  the  City  Auditor,  1862. 

16.  Oration  before  the  City  Authorities,  July  4,  1862,  by  Hon. 

George  T.  Curtis. 

17.  Boston  Almanac,  1862. 

18.  Boston  newspapers,  December  20,  1862. 

19.  A sealed  glass  bottle,  containing  two  United  States  Treasury 
Notes  of  the  denominations  of  one  and  two  dollars ; Postal  Cur- 
rency of  fifty,  twenty-five,  ten,  and  five  cents ; also  a Treasury 
Note  of  the  “ Confederate  States  of  America,”  of  the  denomination 
of  twenty  dollars,  a United  States  Cent  of  1862,  and  an  impres- 
sion from  the  City  Seal. 

20.  A photographic  outline  View  of  the  new  City  Hall. 

The  box  containing  the  foregoing  articles  is  hermeti- 
cally sealed,  and  then  put  inside  another  copper  box 
fifteen  inches  square  and  six  inches  high,  which  is  also 
closed  hermetically,  after  filling  the  space  between  the 
two  boxes  with  dry  pulverized  charcoal.  The  cavity  in 
the  stone  which  received  the  box,  is  eighteen  inches 
square  and  eight  inches  high. 


19 


66 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


MAYOK  LINCOLN’S  ACCESSION  TO  OFFICE. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1863,  Mayor 
Wightman,  to  whose  zeal  and  industry  (ably  seconded 
by  the  efforts  of  Alderman  Francis  Richards,  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Public  Buildings,  and  Councilman 
Daniel  Davies,)  the  city  had  been  mainly  indebted 
for  bringing  this  long  vexed  question  to  a successful 
close,  retired  from  office,  and  was  succeeded  by  Honor- 
able Frederic  W.  Lincoln,  Jr.  The  inaugural  address 
of  the  new  incumbent  contained  the  following  reference 
to  the  work : 

“ One  of  the  most  impressive  circumstances  of  the 
services  of  to-day  is  the  fact  that  probably  this  is  the 
last  city  government  that  will  be  organized  within 
these  walls.  The  multiplied  municipal  interests  of  our 
growing  city  has  demanded  for  some  years  greater 
accommodations  for  its  public  offices  than  the  present 
building  affords.  The  expediency  of  erecting,  in  this 
time  of  war,  a new  building,  has  not  been  left  for  us  to 
decide,  but  has  been  determined  by  our  predecessors. 
Plans  have  been  drawn,  contracts  have  partially  been 
made,  and,  in  fact,  a building  has  actually  been  com- 
menced to  take  its  place.  It  is  our  duty  in  good  faith 
to  carry  out  what  has  been  left  unfinished  by  others  ; 
but  if  we  have  “ entered  into  their  labors,”  it  should 
be  Avitli  a clear  understanding  of  what  they  proposed 
to  do,  and  the  means  which  they  have  appropriated 
toward  its  end. 

Tn  examining  the  order  for  the  erection  of  the  build- 


mayor  Lincoln’s  address. 


67 


ing,  I find  that  the  committee  are  directed  “ to  erect 
a City  Hall,  at  a cost  not  exceeding  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars.”  That  a building 
can  he  erected  for  such  a sum,  I have  my  doubts  ; and 
I am  confirmed  in  this  belief  by  the  contracts  already 
made.  These  only  include  granite,  masonry,  carpentry, 
iron-work,  and  taking  down  the  old  building,  and 
amount  to  $144,300. 

Plastering,  copper-work,  carving,  plumbing,  heating 
apparatus,  painting,  glazing,  marble-work,  gas-fixtures, 
fitting  up  offices,  services  of  architects,  and  furniture, 
have  not  been  contracted  for,  and  have  been  estimated 
by  competent  judges  at  $123,800.  This  sum,  added 
to  144,300,  makes  a total  of  268,100,  which  must 
approximate  toward  the  real  cost  of  the  work.  To 
this  may  be  fairly  added  the  cost  of  removal,  and  rents 
which  the  city  will  have  to  pay  while  rebuilding, 
amounting  to  ten  or  twelve  thousand  dollars.  I have 
deemed  it  my  duty  to  bring  this  subject  to  your  early 
consideration,  so  that  we  may  definitely  know,  at  the 
outset,  the  cost  of  the  edifice,  and  not  be  subject  to 
the  continual  annoyance  of  new  loans  to  carry  on  or 
complete  the  work.” 

The  above  portion  of  the  Mayor’s  address  was 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  for 
their  consideration,  and  on  the  30th  of  March,  they 
made  the  following 

REPORT. 

The  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  to  whom  was 
referred  so  much  of  the  Mayor’s  address  as  related  to 


68 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


the  cost  of  finishing  the  new  City  Hall,  have  consid- 
ered the  same,  and  submit  the  following  report : 

During  the  year  1862  contracts  were  made  for  the 
hammered  stone,  the  mason’s  work  and  carpenter’s 
work,  which  amounted,  in  the  aggregate,  to  about 
$150,000,  which,  being  deducted  from  the  original 
appropriation,  left  a balance  of  $10,000.  The  Com- 
mittee have  given  the  plans  a careful  examination  to 
satisfy  themselves  as  to  whether  any  changes  from  the 
original  plan  are  necessary,  or  expedient,  to  render  the 
building  more  substantial  and  desirable  and  better 
adapted  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  designed ; and 
after  many  meetings  and  much  consultation  they  are 
unanimously  in  favor  of  making  the  following  changes, 
the  advantages  and  cost  of  which  they  respectfully  pre- 
sent. 1.  To  place  all  the  apparatus  for  heating  the 
entire  building,  and  the  fuel  for  the  same,  in  a cellar 
occupying  the  central  portion  of  the  North  or  Court 
Square  front,  thus  leaving  the  entire  basement  for 
offices  and  for  such  other  purposes  as  it  may  be  appro- 
priated to,  and  removing  all  the  dirt  and  dust  and 
other  objectionable  features  of  the  heating  department 
entirely  out  of  view.  2.  To  make  all  the  floors,  from 
the  basement  to  the  third  story  inclusive,  of  brick  and 
iron,  thus  rendering  the  building  nearly  fire-proof  in 
the  principal  stories,  and  giving  it  a character  of 
security  and  permanency  in  keeping  with  its  objects. 
The  cost  of  excavating  and  building  a cellar  as  recom- 
mended will  be  as  per  estimates,  including  an  iron  and 
brick  floor,  $7006.00.  The  cost  of  making  the  other 


REPORTS  AND  ORDERS  DURING  CONSTRUCTION.  69 

three  principal  floors  entirely  of  iron  and  brick  will  be 
as  per  estimates  $26,000.  The  Avhole  cost  of  effecting 
the  changes  of  the  original  plan  recommended  by  the 
Committee  will  thus  be  $33,006.  There  remain  to  be 
contracted  for,  to  complete  the  building,  the  plastering, 
plumbing,  painting  and  glazing,  stairs,  roof  covering, 
copper  gutters,  heating  apparatus,  marble  and  filing, 
safes  and  iron  cases,  gas  fitting,  ventilators,  and  other 
items,  all  of  which  have  been  carefully  calculated  at 
such  prices  as  prevail  at  this  time,  but  many  will  not 
be  needed  for  at  least  one  year.  The  Committee  are 
of  opinion  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of  the  city  to  defer 
contracting  for  those  matters  which  will  not  soon  be 
required  ; but,  as  much  of  the  work  should  be  contracted 
for  at  once,  and  as  it  is  necessary  that  the  contractors 
for  the  masonry  and  carpentry  should  be  early  informed 
of  any  changes  that  are  to  be  made,  the  Committee 
respectfully  request  such  an  addition  to  the  appropria- 
tion as  will  furnish  them  with  the  means  to  carry  out 
the  changes  recommended,  and-  to  execute  the  addi- 
tional contracts  which  ought  to  be  made  the  present 
year.  They  therefore  ask  the  passage  of  the  accom- 
panying order. 

JOSEPH  F.  PAUL, 

SAMUEL  R.  SPINNEY, 

L.  MILES  STANDISH, 
DANIEL  DAVIES, 

JOHN  W.  LEIGHTON, 

GEO.  W.  SPRAGUE, 
NATHANIEL  ADAMS, 
WILLIAM  W.  WARREN, 

Committee  on  Public  Buildings. 

20 


70 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Ordered  : That  the  Treasurer  be,  and  he  hereby  is  authorized 
to  borrow,  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee  on  Finance,  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dollars,  the  same  to  be 
added  to  the  appropriation  for  a new  City  Hall. 

The  order  was  passed  unanimously  by  both  branches 
of  the  City  Council. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1865 — the  work  meanwhile 
having  progressed  with  great  thoroughness  and  care 
under  the  direction  of  Alderman  Davies,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  during  this  and 
the  previous  year  — an  additional  appropriation  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  was  asked  for  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  completing  the  Hall.  The  request  Avas 
granted. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1865,  the  folloAving  order  Avas 
passed  by  the  City  Council  and  approved  by  the  Mayor : 

Ordered : That  the  Committee  oil  Public  Buildings  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  ordered  to  report  to  the  City  Council  the  amount 
of  money  that  will  be  required  to  finish  the  City  Hall,  and  when 
the  same  will  be  completed  and  ready  for  occupancy. 

In  compliance  Avith  the  above  order,  the  Committee 
on  the  3d  of  April,  1865,  made  the  following 

REPORT. 

The  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  who  Avere  ordered 
to  report  to  the  City  Council  the  amount  of  money  that 
Avill  be  required  to  finish  the  City  Hall,  and  Avhen  the 
same  Avill  be  completed  and  ready  for  occupancy,  have 
considered  the  subject,  and  respectfully  report,  that  it  is 


REPORTS  AND  ORDERS  DURING  CONSTRUCTION.  71 

the  opinion  of  the  Committee  that  the  amount  asked  for 
by  them,  viz.,  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  will  be 
sufficient  to  finish  the  building,  including  the  fencing 
and  grading,  and  a part  of  the  furniture  ; but  that  it  is 
difficult  to  make  at  this  time  an  accurate  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  furnishing.  The  Committee  believe,  however, 
that  another  appropriation  of  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars will  be  sufficient  to  furnish  the  building  complete. 
Some  of  the  rooms  will  be  occupied  by  the  first  day  of 
July  next,  and  the  whole  building  will  be  completed 
and  ready  for  occupancy  by  middle  of  September  next. 

DANIEL  DAVIES, 

L.  MILES  STANDISII, 

GEO.  W.  SPRAGUE, 
NATHANIEL  ADAMS, 
WILLIAM  W.  WARREN, 
CHARLES  R.  McLEAN, 
NATHANIEL  McKAY, 
NAHUM  M.  MORRISON, 

Committee  on  Public  Buildings. 


The  report  was  accepted. 

The  following  order  was  approved  by  the  Mayor, 
July  14,  1865  : 

Ordered, : That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  under  the 
direction  of  his  Honor  the  Mayor,  be  directed  to  make  all  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  the  dedication  of  the  City  Hall,  during  the 
present  municipal  year,  and  that  the  expense  attending  the  same 
be  charged  to  the  appropriation  for  the  City  Hall. 


72 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


In  conformity  with  the  foregoing  order  the  Committee 
on  Public  Buildings,  with  the  advice  of  the  Mayor, 
appointed  the  18th  of  Sept,  (the  17th  being  Sunday), 
for  the  dedication  of  the  building. 

On  the  eleventh  of  September,  1865,  it  was  ordered 
by  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  “ That  a message  be  sent  to 
the  Common  Council  proposing  that  a Convention  of 
the  two  branches  of  the  City  Council  be  held  at  the  Com- 
mon Council  Chamber,  in  the  new  City  Hall,  in  School 
Street,  on  Monday,  the  eighteenth  instant,  at  1 2 o’clock, 
M.,  for  the  purpose  of  celebrating,  with  appropriate 
ceremonies,  the  completion  of  the  new  building.” 

The  formalities  for  the  dedication  of  the  new  build- 
ing, which  took  place  on  the  18th  September,  1865, 
were  as  follows : 


THE  DEDICATION. 


21 


THE  DEDICATION. 


On  Monday,  September  18,*  1865,  at  12  o’clock,  M., 
a joint  convention  of  both  branches  of  the  City  Council 
was  held  in  the  Council  Chamber,  at  the  new  City  Hall, 
for  the  purpose  of  dedicating  the  building  to  the  use  of 
the  city  government  of  Boston.  Upon  taking  the  chair, 
his  Honor  the  Mayor  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting, 
and  called  upon  Alderman  Daniel  Davies,  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  who  had  charge 
of  the  work,  to  proceed  in  discharge  of  his  official  duty. 

Alderman  Davies  then  came  forward  and  made  the 
following  remarks  : 

Mr.  Mayor  : It  becomes  my  duty,  as  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  to  surrender  to  you, 
the  chief  executive  officer  of  this  city,  this  building, 
which  has  been  erected  by  the  direction  of  the  City 
Council  for  the  purpose  of  a City  Hall. 

On  the  first  day  of  July,  1862,  the  orders  were 
received  by  the  Committee,  directing  them  to  erect  suit- 
able buildings  for  a City  Hall.  During  the  fall  and 


* The  seventeenth  of  September,  the  anniversary  of  the  foundation  of 
Boston,  occurred  on  Sunday,  and  the  services  were  postponed,  therefore, 
until  the  next  day. 


76 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


winter  of  1862,  the  contracts  were  made  for  the  excava- 
tion, the  stone-work,  masonry,  and  carpentry.  A portion 
of  the  foundation  being  ready  on  the  twenty-second  day 
of  December,  the  corner-stone  was  laid,  which  finished 
the  work  for  that  year.  Early  the  next  spring,  the 
work  was  recommenced,  and  it  has  been  constantly 
prosecuted  to  the  present  time.  As  a full  description, 
with  plans  of  the  building  and  grounds,  the  names  of 
the  contractors,  and  portions  of  work  performed  by 
each,  and  the  expense  of  the  work,  will  soon  be  printed 
in  detail,  it  is  unnecessary  to  give  them  at  this  time. 

Although  considerable  work  yet  remains  to  be  done, 
it  was  thought  best  by  the  Committee  that  the  building 
should  be  formally  dedicated  on  this  day,  — the  anni- 
versary of  the  foundation  of  the  town  of  Boston. 

And  now,  Mr.  Mayor,  under  the  direction  and  in 
behalf  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  I surren- 
der to  your  charge  this  building,  and  deliver  to  you  this 
key,  which  controls  its  entrance. 


To  these  remarks  the  Mayor  responded  as  follows  : 


Mr.  Chairman  : As  the  representative  of  the  Execu- 
tive Government  of  Boston,  it  is  my  duty,  as  well  as 
my  privilege,  to  receive  from  your  hands  this  key,  as  a 
formal  delivery  of  this  beautiful  edifice.  The  peculiar 
felicity  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  is,  that  then’ 
work  appears  in  tangible  form  ; it  is  not  placed  upon 
file,  or  bound  up  with  the  City  Documents,  but  appears 
in  our  public  streets,  and  while  ministering  to  the  wants 
of  the  people,  gratifies  the  taste  and  embellishes  and 


THE  DEDICATION. 


77 


ornaments  the  city.  The  degree  of  opulence  and  wealth 
which  a community  has  attained  is  indicated  by  the 
character  of  its  public  buildings ; and  although  the 
useful  purposes  to  which  they  are  devoted  are  of 
more  vital  consequence  than  their  mere  form,  yet  the 
harmonious  combination  of  the  practical  with  the  beau- 
tiful carries  with  it  a higher  illustration  of  the  culture 
and  refinement  of  the  people.  It  has  been  your  pri- 
vilege, together  with  that  of  your  associates,  in  addition 
to  the  usual  work  committed  to  your  charge,  — such  as 
the  building  of  public  stables  and  engine  houses,  police 
stations,  hospitals,  and  school-houses,  — to  be  called 
upon  to  superintend  the  erection  of  this  crowning  glory 
of  municipal  architecture,  — an  edifice  wisely  adapted 
to  the  official  and  business  purposes  of  the  government, 
and  also  an  expressive  and  imposing  structure,  typify- 
ing by  its  costly  and  elaborate  embellishments  the  dig- 
nity and  relative  rank  of  our  city.  It  is  a subject  of 
just  pride  to  our  citizens  that  within  a few  years  there 
has  been  a marked  change  in  the  outward  appearance 
and  style  of  all  classes  of  our  buildings.  The  stranger, 
who  from  time  to  time  visits  our  metropolis,  must  be 
impressed  with  the  architectural  progress  which  has 
been  made  in  the  character  of  our  private  dwellings, 
as  well  as  those  devoted  to  science  and  art,  and  to  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God. 

While  public-spirited  individuals  have  united  then- 
means  for  the  erection  of  many  elegant  structures 
appropriated  to  the  institutions  which  bless  our  people, 
the  city  itself,  through  its  municipal  authorities,  has  not 
been  negligent  of  its  duty  in  this  respect. 


22 


78 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Whatever  difference  of  opinion  may  have  existed  as 
to  the  expediency  of  erecting  a new  City  Hall  at  a time 
when  the  dark  cloud  of  civil  war  was  hanging  over  the 
country,  yet  its  completion  is  celebrated  when  the  bright 
beams  of  peace  are  cheering  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
As  the  work  on  the  magnificent  Capitol  at  Washington, 
in  which  the  National  Council  holds  its  sessions,  still 
resolutely  went  on  during  the  dark  period,  so  we,  with 
an  unfaltering  faith  in  the  success  of  the  country’s  cause, 
abated  not  one  jot  or  tittle  in  our  original  design.  The 
inflation  of  the  currency  and  other  circumstances  may 
have  swelled  the  figures  on  our  Treasurer’s  books,  but 
we  believe  we  have  presented  to  our  constituents  a 
building  worth  all  it  has  cost. 

For  the  patient  assiduity  and  skilful  manner  in  which 
you,  Mr.  Chairman,  and  your  associates  of  the  Commit- 
tee, have  discharged  the  special  duties  incumbent  on 
your  official  position,  I have  no  doubt  you  will  receive 
the  thanks  of  our  citizens.  This  building  will  long 
remain  a memorial  of  your  devotion  to  the  public  ser- 
vice, and  a monument  to  the  taste  of  the  architects  who 
designed,  and  the  faithful  Boston  mechanics  who  have 
been  engaged  in  its  erection. 

As  the  organ  of  the  city  government,  I cheerfully 
receive  it  from  your  hands,  with  sincere  congratulations 
on  the  near  approach  of  the  consummation  of  your 
labors  in  its  behalf. 

Rev.  Chandler  Robbins,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Second 
Church,  offered  the  following 


THE  DEDICATION. 


79 


PRAYER. 

Almighty  and  most  merciful  God,  our  Father  which 
art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy  name ! We  would 
come  together  for  the  first  time  into  these  goodly  halls 
with  devout  acknowledgments  of  Thy  glory  and  Thy 
goodness,  and  of  our  dependence  and  obligations. 

We  adore  Thee  as  the  Architect  and  Owner  of  the 
heavens,  and  the  earth,  and  all  things  which  they 
contain.  Remembering  that  “ except  the  Lord  build 
the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it,”  we  would 
thank  Thee  that  Thy  providence  has  worked  together 
with  those  whose  skill  and  strength  have  reared  this 
edifice ; that  while  stone  has  been  laid  upon  stone  and 
beam  upon  beam,  no  hostile  power  has  marred  the 
work  or  destroyed  the  workmen.  We  thank  thee  that 
by  Thy  favor  it  stands  complete,  and  that  the  various 
officers  of  our  municipal  government  are  permitted, 
under  such  auspicious  circumstances,  to  take  possession 
of  its  ample  and  commodious  apartments,  and  to  dedi- 
cate them  to  their  public  uses.  May  they  come  into 
its  unpolluted  walls  with  clean  hands  and  pure  hearts, 
with  new  purposes  of  fidelity,  and  new  interest  in  all 
that  concerns  the  welfare  of  our  city  and  its  inhabitants. 

We  thank  Thee  for  all  the  historic  recollections, 
both  of  civic  and  national  interest,  which  this  occasion 
revives.  We  thank  Thee  that  Thou  didst  lead  our  pil- 
grim ancestors  across  the  ocean,  and  guard  and  guide 
them,  while  with  toils  and  prayers  they  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  this  city,  and  of  a new  empire  in  the  west.  We 
thank  Thee  for  then-  faith  and  them  piety,  them  patience 
and  them  trust,  their  love  of  liberty  and  respect  for 


80 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


law,  their  fidelity  to  conscience,  their  political  wisdom 
and  their  practical  energy,  for  all  those  qualities  which 
fitted  them  for  the  successful  performance  of  the  work 
which  Thy  providence  laid  upon  them,  and  the  fruits 
of  which  we  are  this  day  enjoying.  We  thank  Thee 
for  all  and  each  of  those  wise  and  faithful  men,  in  the 
long  line  of  their  successors,  who,  in  their  respective 
generations,  have  contributed  in  any  way  to  promote 
the  true  prosperity  and  establish  the  fan-  fame  of  Bos- 
ton. The  whole  history  of  our  city  is  one  continued 
record  of  Thy  favors.  May  we  not  be  ungrateful. 
May  we  not  be  unworthy  of  such  a past.  May  we  not 
be  forgetful  of  the  hand  that  has  built  us  up  and  the 
mercy  that  has  blessed  us.  Let  us  emulate  the  virtues 
and  public  spirit  of  our  fathers,  and  not  through  pride 
and  impiety  fall  away  from  honoring  and  serving  our 
fathers’  God. 

As  our  thoughts  revert  on  this  anniversary  to  the 
adoption  of  that  Constitution  which  formed  the  basis  of 
our  national  union,  we  would  with  one  accord  offer  our 
thanksgivings  and  supplications  in  behalf  of  our  coun- 
try. We  would  remember  with  gratitude  how  Thou 
didst  watch  over  the  infant  Republic,  and  protect  it 
from  foreign  enemies ; how  Thou  didst  enlarge  its  bor- 
ders and  increase  its  greatness ; how  Thou  didst  nour- 
ish and  defend  it  till  it  took  its  place  among  the  leading 
nations  of  the  earth ; and  when,  in  these  latter  years, 
intestine  discord  threatened  its  destruction,  how  Thy 
Right  Hand  and  Thine  Arm  saved  and  delivered  us. 
We  thank  Thee,  O gracious  Lord,  that  Thou  hast 
brought  us  out  of  all  the  horrors  and  miseries  of  a 
fratricidal  war,  and  art  cheering  and  comforting  us  with 


THE  DEDICATION. 


81 


the  blessings  of  reviving  peace.  Oh,  grant,  we  beseech 
Thee,  that  it  may  be  a righteous  and  permanent  peace. 
As  we  lay  aside  the  weapons  of  warfare,  dispose  and 
help  us  to  put  away  from  us  forever  those  lusts  and 
iniquities  which  were  the  cause  of  the  war,  and  which 
would  be  a perpetual  source  of  future  discord  and 
calamity.  Taught  by  the  bitter  discipline  through 
which  we  have  passed,  may  we  become  a wise,  just, 
and  Christian  people. 

Bless,  we  entreat  Thee,  the  President  of  the  United 
States.  Enlighten  his  mind,  that  he  may  discern  what 
is  for  the  true  interest  of  the  Republic.  Enlarge  and 
purify  his  heart,  that  he  may  be  both  liberal  and  just. 
Strengthen  his  hands,  that  he  may  firmly  execute  the 
laws  and  vigorously  carry  into  effect  wise  and  equitable 
measures  for  the  reconciliation  and  reconstruction  of 
our  disordered  nation.  Endue  the  members  of  his  Cab- 
inet, and  all  who  are  connected  with  the  administration 
of  the  National  Government  with  understanding  and 
virtue.  Discarding  selfish  ambition  and  party  preju- 
dice, may  they  work  together  faithfully  and  successfully, 
with  one  mind,  and  in  the  fear  of  God,  for  their  coun- 
try’s good. 

And  now,  O God,  we  would  humbly  and  fervently 
commend  to  Thy  continued  protection  and  favor  our 
beloved  city  ; its  Chief  Magistrate,  and  all  the  members 
of  its  government,  and  all  who  are  associated  with  its 
service ; its  institutions  of  learning,  science,  charity, 
justice,  and  religion ; the  interests  of  its  trade,  com- 
merce and  industry,  and  all  the  instruments  and  ele- 
ments of  its  prosperity.  Save  it  from  those  things 
which  divide,  corrupt,  and  disgrace  a people ; save  it 
23 


82 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


from  luxury,  intemperance,  faction,  infidelity,  and  every 
form  of  vice  and  ungodliness.  May  it  be  the  home  of 
order,  concord,  health,  intelligence,  and  humanity ; of 
all  the  virtues  which  ennoble,  the  arts  which  adorn  and 
refine,  and  the  Christian  faith  and  piety  which  exalt  a 
city. 

Let  this  edifice,  dedicated  and  set  apart  to  municipal 
services  and  duties,  he  a centre  of  good  and  salutary 
influences.  Here  may  men  of  integrity,  discretion,  and 
practical  ability,  consult  harmoniously,  legislate  wisely, 
and  act  impartially,  for  the  public  good.  May  it  stand 
for  many  years  a tower  of  defence  as  well  as  an  orna- 
ment. As  it  shall  become  venerable  from  age,  may  it 
become  more  and  more  venerable  from  association  with 
the  worthy  names  and  faithful  services  of  those  who 
shall  have  occupied  it.  And,  long  after  its  walls  shall 
have  crumbled,  may  the  spot  on  which  it  stands  be  sur- 
rounded by  the  abodes  of  a prosperous  and  Christian 
people. 

O God,  in  Thy  great  mercy,  accept  these  our  thanks- 
givings and  prayers,  forgive  and  cleanse  us  from  our 
sms,  and  help  us  to  live  to  Thy  glory.  May  all  the 
kingdoms  and  inhabitants  of  the  world  be  blessed  with 
the  knowledge  of  Thy  truth  and  the  experience  of  Thy 
saving  health.  Give  to  Thy  dear  son  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord,  the  sceptre  of  the  nations,  that  he  may  reign  over 
them  in  righteousness  and  peace.  In  him  may  our 
prayers  be  heard,  our  offerings  be  accepted  and  our 
works  blessed,  and  through  him  we  will  render  unto 
Thee  all  praise  and  glory  forever.  Amen. 

The  Mayor  then  delivered  the  following  address : 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  MAYOR, 


FREDERIC  W.  LINCOLN,  JR. 


Gentlemen  of  the  City  Council,  and  Fellow-Citi- 
zens : We  are  assembled  on  an  occasion  which  will 
hereafter  mark  an  important  era  in  the  municipal  his- 
tory of  Boston.  We  have  met  this  day  to  dedicate, 
with  appropriate  ceremonies,  a new  building-  to  be 
devoted  to  the  local  administration  of  the  affairs  of  this 
city.  On  this  two  hundred  and  thirty-fifth  anniversary 
of  its  civic  birth,  our  minds  are  naturally  and  fondly 
carried  back  through  the  stirring  events  of  these  many 
years.  The  long  procession  of  noble  men,  who  have 
given  it  a name  and  character,  again  passes  on  the  stage 
before  us.  We  watch  with  intense  interest  the  move- 
ments of  the  fathers  of  the  town,  who,  self-exiled  from 
the  land  of  then-  birth  and  the  sepulchres  of  tlieh- 
ancestors,  landed  upon  these  shores,  and,  building  a 
home  for  themselves  and  their  little  ones,  laid  the 
foundations  of  a city  which  should  be  known  and 
honored  through  many  generations.  We  would  bow 
in  reverence  to  the  motives  which  led  them  to  form 
this  infant  settlement.  They  were  not  mere  adventu- 
rers,— the  cast-off  mendicants  from  the  Old  World; 
many  of  them  were  men  of  culture  and  education; 


84 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


some  with  a fair  share  of  worldly  goods,  all  of  an  incor- 
ruptible integrity;  yet  they  left  the  conveniences  and 
comforts  of  their  native  land  to  found,  upon  the  barren 
strand  of  a New  World,  a state  where  the  privileges  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty,  of  which  they  had  been 
deprived  by  arbitrary  power,  might  be  enjoyed  by  them- 
selves and  their  posterity.  The  success  which  crowned 
their  efforts  is  illustrated  in  every  page  of  our  annals, 
and  is  to  be  seen  in  our  present  condition  and  prosperity. 
Boston,  the  capital  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  through  all 
its  colonial  and  provincial  existence,  affords  one  of  the 
best  examples  of  the  steady  development  and  progress 
of  civil  freedom,  culminating  in  the  revolutionary  era, 
when  the  sister  colonies,  espousing  her  cause,  united  in 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  thus  establishing  the 
Republic  of  the  United  States,  and  introducing  a new 
people  into  the  family  of  nations. 

Our  local  history  commences  with  September  seventh, 
old  style,  or  September  seventeenth,  new  style,  1630, 
when  the  Court  of  Assistants  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
then  sitting  at  Charlestown,  acting  under  a charter 
granted  by  Charles  the  Fust,  ordered  that  this  peninsula, 
which  had  heretofore  been  called  Shawmut  and  Tri- 
mountain, should  take  the  name  of  Boston.  Such  were 
the  peculiar  associations  connected  with  Boston  in  Eng- 
land, that  the  leaders  in  the  enterprise  had  resolved, 
previous  to  embarking  from  their  homes,  that  the  chief 
town  should  be  called  by  this  name.  Boston  had  been 
famous  in  the  annals  of  the  persecuted  Puritans ; a large 
portion  of  the  company  belonged  to  that  city  and  the 
county  of  Lincoln,  in  which  it  is  situated;  and  it  is  said 


THE  DEDICATION. 


85 


that  the  name  was  also  considered  as  a compliment 
to  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  a distinguished  clergyman  of 
that  place,  who  united  his  fame  and  fortune  with  them, 
and  afterwards  became  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in 
the  new  settlement. 

It  was  thus  early  decided,  on  account  of  its  natural 
advantages,  to  be  the  capital  of  the  colony.  There 
■were  other  places  which  had  been  settled  previously, 
which  had  a claim  to  the  distinction,  such  as  Salem, 
Dorchester,  Charlestown,  and  Cambridge,  but  its  rapid 
growth  and  prosperity  soon  justified  the  wisdom  of  the 
selection.  It  was  designed  for  a commercial  town,  was 
limited  in  extent,  and  was  sometimes  designated  “Black- 
stone’s  Neck,”  after  the  first  settler.  Its  greatest  wants 
were  wood  and  meadow  land,  so  that  those  of  the 
people  “ who  lived  upon  then-  cattle  ” took  farms  in  the 
adjoining  country,  which  were  granted  to  them  for  the 
purpose.  It  was  feared  by  many  that  it  would  be  no 
place  for  continued  habitation,  for  want  of  a staple 
commodity ; but,  as  early  as  1647,  her  interests  had 
become  diversified ; she  not  only  raised  from  the  earth 
and  the  sea  enough  for  all  her  inhabitants,  but  had  a 
large  commerce  with  Virginia,  Barbadoes,  and  the 
Summer  Islands ; with  France,  Spain,  Portugal,  and 
even  with  England. 

Johnson  says,  in  speaking  of  the  colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  that  “ the  maritime  towns  began  to  increase 
roundly,  especially  Boston,  the  which  of  a poor  country 
village,  in  twice  seven  years  it  became  like  unto  a small 
city,  and  is  in  election  to  be  Mayor  Town  suddenly, 
chiefly  increased  by  trade  by  sea.”  He  also  says,  at  an 
24 


86 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


earlier  date,  that  “ it  is  the  centre  town  and  the  metrop- 
olis of  this  wilderness  work,  and  its  continual  enlarge- 
ment presages  some  sumptuous  city.” 

There  is  no  clear  account  of  the  commencement  of 
our  municipal  government.  The  records  in  the  possession 
of  our  City  Clerk  do  not  give  any  light  on  the  subject. 
The  affairs  of  the  colony  and  the  town  were  so  connected, 
as  it  was  the  seat  of  government,  that  probably  at  first 
the  Governor  and  Assistants,  the  majority  being  inhab 
itants  of  the  town,  exercised  all  the  powers  that  were 
necessary.  Sometimes  there  appear  upon  the  records, 
“ Overseers  of  the  Town’s  Concerns,  ” or  “ persons 
chosen  for  the  occasion  of  the  town.”  But  in  1645  a 
regular-  Board  of  Selectmen  was  chosen,  John  Winthrop, 
that  year  acting  as  Deputy  Governor  of  the  Colony, 
being  Chairman,  and  James  Penn,  one  of  their  number, 
Recorder  and  Treasurer.  As  the  town  increased  in 
population  and  wealth,  frequent  attempts  were  made  by 
a portion  of  the  inhabitants  to  secure  for  it  the  name 
and  privileges  of  a city.  As  early  as  1651  the  subject 
was  agitated;  again  in  1708,  in  1762,  in  1784,  in  1815, 
and  finally  with  success  in  1822.  The  whole  number 
of  votes  cast  was  four  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eleven ; the  number  in  favor  of  the  city  government 
was  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  five ; the  number 
against  the  project  was  two  thousand  and  six.  A 
charter  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature,  which  received 
the  signature  of  Governor  Brooks,  February  23,  1822, 
and  was  accepted  by  the  people  on  the  following  fourth 
of  March.  The  new  government  was  organized  at 
Faneuil  Hall  on  the  first  of  May,  the  Chairman  of  the 


THE  DEDICATION. 


87 


Selectmen,  Eliphalet  Williams,  in  an  appropriate  speech, 
transferring'  the  powers  of  the  old  town  organization 
to  the  Mayor,  John  Phillips,  who  delivered  an  inaugural 
address,  — the  oath  of  office  being  administered  by 
Chief  Justice  Parker,  and  a prayer  offered  by  the  Itev. 
Dr.  Baldwin,  the  senior  clergyman  of  the  town. 

No  single  thing  affords  a better  illustration  of  the 
character  of  the  people  of  Boston  than  their  long  con- 
tinued love  for  a democratic  form  of  municipal  organiza- 
tion. It  was  only  when  the  population  became  so  large 
that  theh  interests  suffered  materially  by  the  old  customs, 
that  they  would  consent  to  delegate  the  powers  of  the 
local  government  to  a limited  number  of  their  own  fel- 
low-citizens. A watchful  and  jealous  scrutiny  of  the 
conduct  of  their  official  servants  is  still  a marked 
characteristic  of  Boston,  and  woe  will  befall  our  city 
when  the  great  body  of  her  citizens  cease  to  take  an 
interest  in  her  public  affairs. 

You  will  not  expect  me,  gentlemen,  on  an  occasion 
like  the  present,  to  deliver  an  historical  discourse  upon 
so  inspiring  a theme  as  the  annals  of  Boston,  tempting 
though  it  be.  I have  alluded  to  the  commencement  of 
our  town,  because  the  associations  connected  with  this 
anniversary  required  it,  and  in  order  that  we  may  be 
reminded  of  the  days  of  small  things,  and  of  the  great 
contrast  between  the  distant  past,  and  the  present  of 
which  we  form  a part.  To  the  student  of  history,  I 
verily  believe  there  is  no  more  interesting  study  to  be 
found,  than  the  record  of  the  events  which  have  made 
Boston  what  she  is  to-day.  He  will  find  that  she  has 
had  a healthy  and  well-developed  progress  in  everything 


88 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


which  promotes  the  welfare  of  civilized  man,  — the 
cause  of  religion  and  morals,  education  and  science, 
commerce  and  industry,  good  order  and  social  happiness. 
While  the  machinery  of  town  government,  based  upon 
the  example  of  the  mother  country,  was  followed  so  far 
as  it  suited  her  condition,  yet  better  methods  and  addi- 
tional institutions  were  organized,  more  wisely  adapted 
to  the  character  and  prospective  wants  of  the  people. 

The  stirring  events  which  made  her  name  famous  in 
the  revolutionary  era  have  somewhat  overshadowed  her 
earlier  history;  but  I contend  that  her  career  has  been 
brilliant  from  the  first ; and  her  intrepid  stand  against  the 
encroachments  of  arbitrary  power  at  that  time  was  but 
the  natural  consequence  of  that  education  and  discipline 
which  her  people  had  been  receiving  for  a century  and 
a half  in  the  defence  of  their  colonial  and  provincial 
rights.  There  is  not  a more  pregnant  page  in  the 
records  of  the  progress  of  mankind  towards  civil  liberty 
than  the  part  which  our  town  took  in  that  long  struggle, 
in  which  she  was  finally  defeated,  when  the  original 
charter  of  Massachusetts  Bay  was  taken  from  the  col- 
ony, and  it  became  a province  of  the  King.  Then  com- 
menced a new  era  in  her  history,  apparently  dark,  but 
gradually  lighting  up  as  she  successively  combated  and 
defied  the  several  British  governors,  who,  representing 
the  prerogatives  of  the  Crown,  claimed  her  slavish  alle- 
giance, until  she  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  the  last  of 
the  loyal  line  forced  to  take  his  departure  from  the 
town,  and  sail  down  the  waters  of  our  beautiful  bay 
with  his  mercenary  troops,  never  more  to  return.  The 
events  of  the  revolutionary  period  are  as  familiar  to  us 


THE  DEDICATION. 


89 


as  “ household  words.”  As  Boston  was  the  theatre 
where  its  great  principles  were  earliest  discussed  and 
promulgated,  so  was  its  vicinity  the  scene  of  some  of  its 
most  important  engagements  when  an  appeal  was  made 
to  arms.  The  long  struggle  on  other  fields,  and  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country,  she  sustained  with  men  and 
means  in  a cheerful  spirit ; and  when  peace  came,  her 
people,  and  especially  her  mechanics,  spoke  with  a reso- 
lution which  could  not  be  resisted,  in  behalf  of  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Federal  Constitution,  which  was  the  glorious 
consummation  of  the  patriot’s  prayers,  and  the  bright 
herald  of  the  nation’s  prosperity.  At  the  advent  of  the 
new  government  under  Washington  — the  country  saved 
by  the  valor  of  her  sons,  and  the  Union  consolidated  by 
the  provisions  of  this  immortal  instrument — Boston  again 
started  on  her  onward  course.  Her  representatives  took 
a leading  part  in  the  National  Councils,  while  her  citi- 
zens at  home  embarked  in  new  enterprises  for  the  devel- 
opment of  the  commercial  and  industrial  resources  of 
the  country.  The  keels  of  her  merchant  ships  vexed 
the  seas  of  every  continent.  Her  capitalists  made  the 
streams  of  New  England,  as  they  descended  to  the 
ocean,  work  their  passage  as  manufactories  were  planted 
on  their  murmuring  courses.  Her  mechanics  and  arti- 
sans, invigorated  by  the  new  motives  to  labor  which 
independence  had  secured,  added  new  wealth  to  the 
community ; and  her  professional  men  of  every  class 
gave  a fresh  lustre  to  science,  and  dedicated  their  learn- 
ing to  the  advancement  and  elevation  of  mankind.  In 
the  history  of  the  last  half  century,  she  has  been  in 
unison  with  the  rapid  progress  and  marvellous  success 

25 


90 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


of  our  common  country.  Her  wealth  and  population 
have  increased  with  a healthy  and  steady  growth. 
Often  reproached  as  the  representative  of  Ideas  in  ad- 
vance of  the  public  sentiment  of  the  whole  Union,  she 
to-day  is  honored  as  never  before,  for  her  unflinching 
adherence  to  principle  ; and  the  Republic  itself  will  not 
part  with  her  fame  or  the  renown  of  her  great  men,  so 
long  as  it  holds  a place  in  the  front  rank  of  the  consti- 
tutional governments  of  the  Avorld. 

I must  confess  to  you  that,  in  the  preparation  for  this 
occasion,  among  the  multitude  of  subjects,  I have  found 
it  difficult  to  so  order  my  thoughts  as  to  select  the  appro- 
priate topics  for  consideration.  The  primary  cause 
which  led  our  ancestors  to  this  place  was  religion ; and 
it  would  be  an  interesting  field  of  survey  to  trace  the 
progress  of  religious  thought  and  theological  inquiry,  — 
to  see  how,  with  the  advance  of  years,  the  tenets  of  the 
older  sects  were  liberalized  and  new  churches  planted 
and  prospered,  so  that  now,  living  in  harmony,  we  have 
the  representatives  of  all  the  denominations  into  which 
the  Christian  world  is  divided.  Education  was  the  stone 
upon  which  our  fathers  laid  the  foundation  of  then’ 
superstructure ; and  this  interest  has  been  so  prominent 
through  our  history,  that  the  modern  friends  of  free 
schools  have  sometimes  considered  it  our  special  token 
of  regard,  and  other  communities  have  gladly  followed 
in  the  intellectual  paths  which  we  have  marked  out  for 
ourselves.  I believe  it  is  generally  acknowledged,  that 
there  is  no  large  city  in  the  world  where  the  people  of 
every  class  are  so  well  versed  in  the  common  rudiments 
of  knowledge ; and  certainly  there  is  none,  in  comparison 


TIIE  DEDICATION. 


91 


with  the  population,  where  there  are  so  many  institutions 
devoted  to  the  higher  branches  of  scientific  investigation, 
and  to  the  encouragement  of  elegant  literature  and  the 
fine  arts.  Institutions  for  charitable  and  philanthropic 
purposes  have  always  been  fostered,  keeping  pace  with 
human  wants  and  needs,  so  that  hardly  an  “ill  which 
flesh  is  heir  to”  is  left  neglected  in  the  circle  of  our 
ministering  agencies. 

The  glorious  success  of  our  national  arms  in  crushing 
the  late  rebellion  and  extirpating  that  foul  blot  on  the 
nation’s  character,  which  has  so  long  been  our  reproach, 
will  have  an  important  effect  on  our  commercial  and 
industrial  relations.  Channels  of  business  heretofore 
obstructed,  or  undeveloped,  will  soon  open  to  the  spirit 
of  adventure  or  enterprise.  Holding  fast  on  those 
methods  and  objects  of  traffic  which  have  been  a source 
of  her  worldly  success,  Boston  is  destined  to  expand  still 
more  in  this  direction;  and  that  prosperity  which  is 
based  upon  a mutual  interchange  of  the  commodities  of 
the  earth  with  the  handicraft  of  man,  can  be  anticipated 
for  our  city  with  the  liveliest  feelings  of  hope  and  cheer. 
A modern  teacher  of  political  economy  has  a maxim, 
that,  “ to  increase  the  wealth  of  a people,  you  add  to 
then-  power  to  bless  the  world.”  We,  therefore,  may 
rejoice  from  the  highest  motives,  at  all  the  signs  of  an 
affluent  city  which  appear,  if  we  constantly  bear  in  mind 
that  our  duties  correspond  with  the  privileges  we  enjoy. 

Another  class  of  subjects  pertinent  to  the  occasion, 
if  time  would  permit,  would  be  a consideration  of  the 
various  interests  directly  connected  with  the  special  pre- 
rogatives and  duties  of  a municipal  government.  The 


92 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


topographical  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the 
town  since  its  settlement,  have  been  as  marked  as  any  in 
its  history.  Commencing  on  a peninsula  of  about  seven 
hundred  acres,  with  its  additional  territory,  mostly 
reclaimed  from  the  sea,  it  is  now  not  far  from  sixteen 
hundred  acres ; while  East  Boston  and  South  Boston, 
now  single  wards,  have  each  an  extent  of  surface  suita- 
ble for  habitations  and  business  purposes  larger  than  the 
original  town.  Some  of  the  prominent  hills  in  the  City 
proper  have  been  levelled,  and  its  creeks  have  been 
tilled  up.  Many  of  its  ancient  streets,  following  the  line 
of  the  shore,  or  creeping  at  the  base  of  its  original 
heights,  or  suiting  themselves  to  the  diversities  of  the 
surface  of  the  soil,  have  been  straightened  and  widened ; 
and  this  is  a work  which  must  go  on,  to  meet  the  new 
exigencies  of  a teeming  and  thriving  population,  — a 
prolific  source  of  official  business,  and  involving  a large 
expenditure  of  the  public  money.  Our  harbor,  naturally 
one  of  the  most  magnificent  in  the  world,  whose  spacious 
and  convenient  waters  were  the  very  cause  of  the  loca- 
tion of  the  town,  has,  through  the  ravages  of  the  sea, 
been  seriously  impaired,  and  deserves  the  most  careful 
management,  especially  in  those  schemes  for  the  city’s 
enlargement  which  an  increasing  commerce  may  require. 
When  we  consider  the  millions  of  people  who  are  in  the 
future  to  inhabit  this  continent,  and  are  to  form  this  ener 
getic  and  busy  nation,  and  recollect  that  the  good  harbors 
on  the  Atlantic  coast,  which  connect  us  with  the  old 
world,  can  be  counted  on  one’s  fingers,  while  this  geo- 
graphical fact  presages  that  Boston  will  always  hold  an 


TIIE  DEDICATION. 


93 


important  commercial  position,  yet  it  gives  a new  signifi- 
cance to  this  interest  so  vital  to  its  prosperity. 

The  sanitary  condition  of  our  city,  always  a matter  of 
concern  with  our  ancestors,  as  is  seen  in  their  early 
appointment  of  a board  of  health,  becomes  more  and 
more  a subject  of  municipal  care  as  population  increases. 
The  liberal  supply  and  proper  distribution  of  water,  the 
fire  department,  which  protects  our  dwellings  and  ware- 
houses from  the  devouring  element,  the  police,  who 
shield  us  from  the  designs  and  acts  of  wicked  men,  the 
institutions  where  the  vicious  are  incarcerated,  or  the 
unfortunate  or  the  insane  find  their  homes,  the  finances 
of  the  city,  the  construction  of  sewers,  the  paving  and 
lighting  of  streets,  the  markets,  cemeteries,  hospitals, 
public  library  and  schools,  all  these  and  kindred  subjects 
afford  themes  of  thought  and  comment,  and  are  naturally 
forced  upon  our  attention,  as  we  sit  together  for  the  first 
time  in  a new  building  to  be  devoted  to  their  manage- 
ment. But  your  patience  would  weary,  and  my  strength 
would  fail,  in  the  attempt  to  give  them  that  elaborate 
consideration  which  their  merits  demand. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  the  first  city  government 
of  Boston  was  inaugurated  in  1822,  at  Faneuil  Hall. 
Some  of  the  municipal  offices  remained  in  that  ancient 
edifice  a number  of  years ; others  were  located  in  what 
was  then  called  the  County  Court  House,  the  building 
formerly  on  this  spot,  in  which  the  meetings  of  the 
Common  Council  were  held.  On  the  two-hundredth  anni- 
versary of  the  settlement  of  the  town,  September  17tli, 
1830,  the  old  State  House  having  been  remodelled  for 
the  purpose,  the  different  branches  of  the  government, 
26 


94 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


which  had  previously  been  in  separate  buildings,  took 
possession  of  it,  and  an  address  was  delivered  by 
the  Mayor,  Harrison  Gray  Otis.  On  the  same  day 
appropriate  commemorative  services,  of  a popular 
character,  took  place  at  the  Old  South  Church,  an 
address  being  delivered  by  Josiah  Quincy,  the  second 
Mayor  of  Boston,  and  a poem  by  Charles  Sprague. 
The  city  government  remained  in  the  old  State  House 
about  ten  years,  when  another  change  took  place,  and 
it  removed  back  to  this  point,  bringing  with  it  other 
additional  departments  of  the  public  service.  The 
edifice  was  formally  dedicated  as  a City  Hall,  March 
18,  1841,  by  an  address  from  Jonathan  Chapman,  then 
Mayor  of  the  city.  The  corner-stone  of  the  edifice  in 
which  we  are  now  assembled  was  laid  December  22, 
1862,  — the  anniversary  of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims 
at  Plymouth,  — with  appropriate  Masonic  services  and 
an  address  by  the  Mayor,  Joseph  M.  Wightman.  This 
is  the  first  building,  therefore,  which  has  been  built 
and  specially  designed  for  municipal  purposes ; and 
the  present  government  will  have  the  satisfaction, 
before  their  term  of  office  has  expired,  to  see  its 
administrative  officers  suitably  established,  with  the 
best  facilities  for  the  accommodation  of  our  citizens 
and  the  despatch  of  public  business.  We  have  no 
inspiring  historical  associations  connected  with  this 
edifice,  as  had  our  predecessors,  who  occupied  Faneuil 
Hall  and  the  old  State  House ; but  the  vicinity  reminds 
us  of  the  early  past,  as  we  look  into  the  ancient  burial- 
ground  by  our  side,  and  recollect  that  Johnson  and 
Winthrop,  the  fathers  of  the  town,  have,  for  upwards 


THE  DEDICATION. 


95 


of  two  centuries,  been  sleeping  within  its  sacred 
enclosure ; and  that  not  far  distant  rest  the  hones  of 
Hancock  and  Adams,  and  other  patriots  of  another 
historical  period.  Nor  can  we  forget  that,  on  the  very 
spot  where  the  statue  of  Franklin  is  located  before 
our  windows,  he  played  as  a Boston  schoolboy ; and 
that  within  a stone’s  throw  still  stands  the  Old  South 
Church,  so  redolent  with  the  patriotic  memories  of 
other  days. 

We,  and  our  successors  in  office,  are  to  give  this 
new  building  a name  and  character.  May  its  sym- 
metry and  beautiful  proportions  be  emblematical  of  the 
purity  of  life  and  elevated  principles  of  those  who 
shall  occupy  these  seats,  till  the  several  departments  of 
public  service,  and  manage  the  municipal  affairs  of  this 
city ! The  past  is  secure.  The  general  character  of 
our  government  from  the  first  has  been  a fitting  repre- 
sentative of  the  reputation  of  our  people.  Few  names 
upon  our  Municipal  Register  we  could  wish  blotted 
from  the  roll , for  no  city  has  been  more  favored  with 
faithful  and  devoted  public  servants.  The  most  afflu- 
ent in  fortune,  the  highest  in  social  position  and  culture, 
have  deemed  it  an  honor  to  participate  in  the  conduct 
of  our  civic  affairs,  and  citizens  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  in  some  of  the  most  exalted  national  posi- 
tions, have  put  on  again  the  badge  of  office,  and  devoted 
their  time  and  talents  for  the  promotion  of  the  city’s 
welfare.  We  have  seen  in  other  large  municipalities, 
paradoxical  as  it  may  appear,  that  those  citizens  who 
have  the  most  at  stake,  and  whose  fortunes  and  happi- 
ness are  dependent  in  a great  measure  upon  good 


96 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


government,  are  the  very  ones  who  take  the  least 
interest  in  then-  local  affairs,  and  those  who  would  have 
exerted  the  best  influence,  on  account  of  then-  intel- 
lectual gifts  or  moral  character,  shrink,  as  from  pollu- 
tion, from  the  discharge  of  those  duties  which  they 
cannot  neglect  without  detriment  to  the  public  weal. 
A municipality  is  formed  to  organize  order,  to  afford 
protection  to  persons  and  property,  and  to  secure  the 
blessings  of  peace  and  prosperity  to  a community. 
These  can  only  be  accomplished  by  the  active  and 
zealous  interest  of  the  best  men.  They  should  occa- 
sionally take  office  themselves,  when  their  services  are 
needed;  and  they  should  always  watch  with  a jealous 
care  the  tendencies  of  public  measures  and  the  motives 
of  those  who  originate  them.  If  Boston  has  accpiired 
any  reputation  in  the  conduct  of  her  internal  affairs, 
it  is  because  her  people  have  so  distinguished  themselves 
in  these  matters ; and  when  it  shall  be  otherwise,  her 
glory  will  have  departed,  and  she  should  give  up  the 
right  of  self-government,  for  she  will  no  longer  deserve 
the  privilege.  The  pride  which  a Bostonian  feels  in 
his  city,  whether  he  was  born  within  its  limits  or  has 
made  it  his  home  by  adoption,  is  justified  by  its  past 
history,  its  actual  condition,  and  its  future  prospects. 
Our  business  men  are  not,  as  in  some  other  localities, 
mere  seekers  of  fortune,  temporary  sojourners  until  that 
object  is  accomplished ; but  they  are  a part  of  the 
living  community,  identified  with  all  its  concerns,  and 
looking  forward  to  spending  the  evening  of  their  days 
within  its  precincts,  or  within  the  influence  of  its  cher- 
ished associations.  Hence  a public  spirit  is  fostered, 


TIIE  DEDICATION. 


97 


which  pervades  every  class  and  condition,  which  inter- 
ests itself  in  every  cause  which  will  add  to  the  good 
name  and  fame  of  the  city,  and  which  in  the  affluent  is 
so  often  illustrated  in  the  liberal  endowments  of  our 
literary  and  charitable  institutions. 

In  ancient  times  cities  were  established,  under  a dif- 
ferent form  of  civilization,  for  mutual  protection  of  the 
people,  and  were  surrounded  with  walls  and  fortifica- 
tions as  a defence  against  a common  enemy.  Now, 
business  is  their  mother,  and  while  it  is  the  chief  inter- 
est and  the  greatest  element  in  their  outward  growth, 
they  become  the  great  centres  of  mischief  unless  there 
is  in  the  inhabitants  a love  of  religion  and  virtue,  and 
a taste  for  those  objects  of  nature  and  art  which 
ennoble  the  mind  and  refine  the  character.  I do  not 
believe,  with  Jefferson,  that  “great  cities  are  great 
sores,”  for  I hold  that  municipalities  were  the  first  to 
be  identified  with  the  cause  of  popular  liberty;  but  we 
may  accept  the  remark  as  a warning,  and  endeavor  to 
make  our  city  the  great  fountain  from  which  shall 
spread  those  influences  which  shall  be  for  the  healing  of 
the  nation. 

In  addition  to  the  local  associations  connected  with 
this  day,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  it  is  also  the  anni- 
versary of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  Sharing  with  the  whole  country  in  the 
blessings  of  the  Union,  no  city  has  been  more  loyal 
than  Boston,  or  has  exhibited  better  proofs  of  its  devo- 
tion to  the  National  Government.  The  late  infamous 
attempt  to  destroy  the  integrity  of  the  Republic  at  once 
aroused  her  patriotism,  and  she  proved,  through  the 
27 


98 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


long  and  protracted  struggle,  that  the  fires  of  liberty, 
kindled  by  the  fathers,  were  still  burning  on  her  altars. 
Her  sons  went  forth  to  the  field  of  battle,  or  stood  upon 
the  decks  of  our  naval  ships,  taking  their  lives  in  their 
hands  for  the  common  defence,  while  her  daughters 
lent  their  ministering  aid  by  the  bedsides  of  the 
wounded  and  dying  in  the  hospitals,  or,  remaining  at 
home,  comforted  and  cheered  the  absent  by  their 
timely  contributions  to  their  pressing  needs.  The  old 
flag,  whose  beautiful  colors  have  always  mingled 
gracefully  with  the  atmosphere  which  surrounds  our 
habitations,  now  floats  over  a reunited  country.  Stream- 
ing in  the  free  air  as  the  representative  of  noble  ideas 
and  a great  nationality,  the  best  interests  of  humanity 
fostered  and  protected  under  its  ample  folds,  its  honor 
an  absorbing  passion,  the  people  of  Boston  will  be  the 
last  to  submit  to  its  humiliation,  and  with  a resolute 
spirit  will  defend  its  fair  fame,  whether  assailed  by 
domestic  traitors  or  foreign  foes. 

To-day,  then,  gentlemen  of  the  City  Council,  on  this 
double  anniversary,  with  the  associations  connected  with 
the  memory  of  the  ancestors  who  laid  the  foundations 
of  this  city,  and  the  statesmen  who  framed  the  Federal 
compact  which  gave  constitutional  life  to  a nation,  we 
appropriately  dedicate  an  edifice  for  the  home  of  muni- 
cipal legislation.  Its  deliberative  halls  may  never  echo 
with  the  sublime  eloquence  which  stirs  the  hearts  of 
the  people  in  senatorial  chambers,  or  inflames  their 
passions  in  the  popular  assemblies  ; the  subjects  of 
discussion  may  be  prosaic,  but  their  results  will  affect 
the  happiness  and  comfort  of  many  homes.  We  would 


THE  DEDICATION. 


99 


dedicate  these  Avails  to  the  cause  of  good  order  and  good 
government ; to  a watchful  care  of  the  morals  of  the 
community  ; to  a zealous  stewardship  of  all  its  public 
interests  ! Let  the  narrow  spirit  of  party  and  partisan- 
ship stop  at  the  threshold  and  seek  other  theatres  for 
the  display  of  their  intrigues  ! Let  official  power  be 
considered  a sacred  trust  to  he  exercised  by  the  most 
worthy  citizens,  — the  possessor  himself  the  bright 
exemplar  and  representative  of  the  highest  standard  of 
public  virtue ! Let  wholesome  laws  and  wise  ordi- 
nances advance  the  material  prosperity  of  our  beloved 
city,  and  the  personal  welfare  of  all  its  inhabitants  ! 
And  with  a filial  obedience  to  the  commands  of  the 
Great  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  in  whose  hands  are  the 
destinies  of  communities  as  well  as  individuals,  may 
the  prayer  of  the  people  be  ever  that  on  the  city  seal : 

“<S icut  patribus  sit  Dens  nobis.'' 

As  God  was  with  our  Fathers,  so  may  He  be  with  us. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


28 


DESCBIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


The  City  Hall  faces  School  Street,  with  a large 
and  beautiful  space  in  front,  through  the  centre  of 
which  is  a broad  avenue,  paved  with  North  Kiver 
flagging,  leading  to  the  principal  entrance  of  the 
building. 

On  the  left,  as  you  ascend  from  School  street,  in  the 
centre  of  the  grass-plot,  stands  the  statue  of  Franklin,  with 
a gravel  walk  surrounding  the  base,  for  the  inspection  of 
the  statue  and  the  bronze  bas-reliefs  in  the  pedestal, 
which  represent  some  of  the  principal  events  in  the  life 
of  that  great  philosopher.  The  space  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  avenue,  as  yet,  remains  unoccupied,  and 
presents  only  a beautiful  bed  of  green. 

The  distance  from  which  the  edifice  can  be  viewed  is 
too  limited  to  give  the  most  favorable  impression  of  its 
harmonious  proportions  and  outline ; but  even  under 
this  disadvantage  it  presents  a grand  and  imposing 
appearance.  European  travellers,  and  persons  from 
other  cities  of  the  United  States,  unite  in  the  opinion 
that  nowhere  else  on  this  continent  can  a municipal 
building  be  found  of  such  elegance,  and  so  well  adapted 
for  its  designed  use. 

The  fence  in  front  of  the  building  corresponds  well 
with  the  dignified  architecture  of  the  edifice.  It  is 


104 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


constructed  of  iron,  supported  by  massive  granite  posts. 
Two  central  posts  are  fifteen  feet  in  height,  and  the 
middle  block  in  each  weighs  nine  tons.  These  posts 
are  pierced  vertically  for  the  introduction  of  gas-pipes 
to  the  lamps  which  surmount  them.  Between  these 
posts  is  placed  an  ornamental  gate  of  unique  design, 
and  at  each  side  three  guard  posts  are  erected. 

The  face  of  the  entire  principal  front  of  the  building, 
and  that  of  the  west  side,  toward  the  cemetery,  are  of 
white  granite,  from  the  celebrated  quarries  of  Concord, 
New  Hampshire. 

The  basement  on  all  sides,  together  with  the  trim- 
mings of  the  rear  and  of  the  east  side,  upon  Court 
Avenue,  are  of  the  same  handsome  material;  while  the 
ashlar  or  face  of  these  two  latter  facades  is  of  the 
stone  from  the  old  City  Hall,  which  occupied  a portion 
of  the  site  on  which  the  present  edifice  stands. 

The  exterior  walls  are  backed  with  brick,  and  are 
vaulted  between  the  facing  and  brick.  With  very  few 
exceptions  all  the  interior  partitions  are  of  brick,  many 
of  them  containing  ah'  spaces  which  serve  for  the  ven- 
tilation of  the  principal  apartments. 

The  basement,  first,  second  and  third  stories,  are 
wholly  fire-proof,  their  floors  being  composed  of  brick 
arches  laid  in  cement,  supported  by  iron  beams.  The 
staircase  halls  throughout  every  story  are  constructed  in 
a similar  manner,  and  with  the  stairs,  which  are  of  iron, 
are  fire-proof. 

The  floors  of  the  fourth,  fifth  and  attic  stories,  are  of 
the  best  burnetized  timber  construction.  The  roof  is 
also  of  wood,  covered  with  copper  and  slate. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TIIE  BUILDING. 


105 


The  interior  finish  of  the  first  or  principal  story  of 
the  building  is  in  butternut.  That  of  all  the  other 
stories  is  of  pine,  with  the  exception  of  counters,  furni- 
ture, water-closet  finish,  etc.,  which  are  of  oak,  walnut, 
chestnut  and  butternut. 

The  grand  entrance  is  from  School  Street  into  the 
first-story  hall,  which  is  paved  with  squares  of  black 
and  white  marble ; and,  as  the  visitor  enters,  he  beholds 
the  magnificent  staircases,  which  are,  perhaps,  the  most 
striking  and  effective  feature  of  the  interior.  The  con- 
struction of  the  risers  and  treads  and  outside  stringer  is 
of  iron ; the  ornamental  moulded  face  stringers,  newels, 
rail  and  balusters,  being  of  solid  oak.  The  continuous 
platform,  which  forms  the  landing  in  each  story,  is  carried 
on  eight  oak  columns,  covering  an  iron  column  within, 
the  columns  standing  in  pairs,  fluted,  and  having  rich 
Roman  Ionic  capitals  carrying  entablatures.  The  stairs 
diverge  from  the  centre  of  the  hall,  opposite  the  main 
corridor  in  the  first  story,  after  rising  ten  steps, 
in  two  separate  flights,  to  the  right  and  left,  and  are 
continued  thus,  in  a double  flight,  to  the  fifth  story. 
Standing  as  they  do,  in  a clear,  unobstructed  space  of 
twenty-eight  by  seventy-two  feet,  and  lighted  above  by 
five  elaborately  coffered  and  panelled  skylight  openings 
in  the  ceiling  of  the  fifth  story,  at  the  height  of  ninety 
feet  from  the  lower  floor,  the  effect  of  these  staircases  is 
extremely  spacious  and  imposing,  and  they  are  probably 
not  equalled,  either  for  dimensions  or  superiority  of 
design  and  finish,  by  any  in  the  country. 

The  corridor,  leading  from  the  School-street  entrance 
to  the  staircase  hall,  is  fourteen  feet  five  inches  in  width. 

29 


106 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


In  the  wall,  back  of  the  first  landing,  and  facing  the  ves- 
tibule, is  a tablet  of  exquisite  workmanship,  composed 
of  veined  Italian  Sienna  and  white  statuary  marble,  upon 
which  is  placed  the  following  inscription : 

CITY  HALL. 

Corner-Stone  Laid  Dec.  22,  1S62. 

J.  JH.  ffffiTflljtman,  fHagor. 

Dedicated  September  l’T'tli,  1SG£3. 

It.  OT.  2.1'ncoln,  Jr.,  iUaijor. 

G.  J,  F.  Bryant  and  A.  Gilman,  Architects. 


The  original  Report  of  the  Committee  of  1862  fur- 
nishes a full  and  particular  description  of  the  dimen- 
sions, arrangement,  and  intended  uses  of  the  building. 
Several  changes  in  the  distribution  of  the  apartments 
having  been  made,  however,  during  the  progress  of  the 
works,  the  following  account  will  serve  to  convey  an 
idea  of  their  nature  and  extent. 

The  sub-cellar  of  the  building  is  used  for  a heating 
apparatus  for  the  whole  structure,  and  for  the  storage  of 
fuel.  The  basement  story  is  twelve  feet  in  height  in 
the  clear,  and  has  two  commodious  entrances  on  Court 
Square.  In  this  story  are  two  rooms  for  the  Directors 
of  Public  Institutions  and  their  clerks  (contiguous  to 
which  is  a spacious  room  for  the  reception  of  indigent 
persons) ; the  office  of  the  Sealer  of  Weights  and 
Measures ; the  Soldiers’  Aid  Committee ; the  Superin- 
tendents of  Hacks,  Trucks  and  Pawnbrokers ; the 
City  Physician  (two  apartments)  ; the  Janitor;  a repair 
shop  for  the  fire  alarm  telegraph  ; a room  for  storing 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TIIE  BUILDING. 


107 


tools  used  by  workmen  on  water- works,  and  a large 
store-room.  There  are  also  two  rooms  for  the  Police 
Department,  — one  for  searching  parties  under  arrest 
and  for  storing  stolen  property,  the  other  containing 
two  cells,  connected  with  the  private  office  of  the  Chief 
of  Police,  above,  by  a spiral  staircase.  Water-closets 
and  urinals  in  this  story  are  also  provided  in  an 
apartment  by  themselves. 

In  the  first  story  are  the  offices  of  the  City  Treasurer 
(two  rooms),  connecting  with  which  is  a large  brick 
vault,  enclosing  burglar  and  fire  proof  safes,  the  whole 
of  the  most  massive  construction ; the  offices  of  the 
Water  Registrar  and  Water  Board  (three  rooms);  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  (two  rooms) ; Chief  of  Police  and 
Detectives  (two  rooms) ; Assessors  (one),  and  Auditor 
(two  rooms).  These  apartments  are  all  seventeen  and 
a half  feet  in  height,  and  afford  ample  space  for  the 
business  to  be  transacted  in  them. 

In  the  second  story  is  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s 
room,  forty-four  feet  four  inches  by  forty-four  feet  eight 
inches,  and  twenty-six  feet  four  inches  in  height,  extend- 
ing upward  through  the  third  story.  In  plan  it  is  an 
unequal  octagon,  the  four  cardinal  sides  being  consid- 
erably longer  than  the  diagonal  ones  ; each  side  is  filled 
by  a richly  moulded  arch,  supported  by  coupled  Roman 
Ionic  columns  and  pilasters,  — the  columns  finely  exe- 
cuted, in  close  imitation  of  Sienna  marble. 

The  ceiling  is  panelled  to  correspond  with  the  outline 
of  the  walls,  having  rich  centre  pieces  in  the  four  prin- 
cipal panels,  together  with  a large  and  very  elaborate 
one  in  the  centre. 


108 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Adjoining,  on  the  left,  is  a lobby,  containing  a ward- 
robe for  each  Alderman,  and  water-closets  and  urinals. 
On  this  floor,  are  the  offices  of  the  City  Clerk  (three 
rooms  — in  one  of  which  is  located  a brick  vault  for 
receiving  all  the  volumes  of  records),  Superintendent 
and  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  (two  rooms), 
Clerk  of  Committees  (one),  City  Messenger  (one), 
City  Registrar  and  Directors  of  Mount  Hope  Cem- 
etery (two  rooms),  and  one  large  committee  room ; 
also,  the  Mayor’s  private  office  and  the  office  of  his 
clerk.  The  rooms  in  this  story,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s  chamber,  are  thirteen  feet  in 
height. 

In  the  thud  story,  which  is  twelve  feet  in  height,  are 
two  rooms  for  the  Internal  Health  Department,  two  for 
the  Superintendent  of  Streets,  one  for  the  Milk  Inspec- 
tor, a private  office  for  the  Superintendent  of  Fire 
Alarms,  two  rooms  in  connection  for  the  Superintendent 
of  Sewers  and  Lands,  two  for  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the 
Fire  Department  and  Superintendent  of  Lamps,  and 
three  rooms  for  the  City  Engineer  and  his  assistants. 

The  Common  Council  Chamber  is  located  in  the 
fourth  story,  directly  over  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s 
room.  It  is  a square  apartment,  measuring  forty-four 
feet  eight  inches  on  a side,  and  twenty-seven  feet  in 
height  to  the  ceiling,  which  is  octagonal.  It  has  gal- 
leries on  three  sides,  capable  of  seating  two  hundred 
and  fifty  persons.  The  galleries  do  not  project  into  the 
apartment,  but  are  constructed  over  the  adjoining  rooms 
and  staircase  gallery,  and  are  entered  from  the  fifth  story. 
The  walls  of  the  attic  and  dome  overhead  are  supported 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TIIE  BUILDING. 


109 


by  a range  of  ten  handsome  composite  columns,  standing 
on  the  line  of  the  front  balustrade  of  the  three  gal- 
leries. 

The  ceiling  is  coved  and  enriched  with  panels,  orna- 
mental drops,  and  other  appropriate  details. 

The  furniture  in  these  two  principal  apartments,  and 
throughout  the  building,  was  made  specially  for  the 
places  which  the  different  articles  were  intended  to 
occupy,  from  designs  drawn  under  the  direction  of  the 
Building  Committee.  In  these  designs  beauty  and 
elegance  are  combined  with  utility,  and  the  fine  effect 
of  the  different  apartments  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the 
blending  of  the  variously  colored  woods  and  the  appear- 
ance of  harmony  in  all  the  arrangements.  Indeed,  the 
general  impression  which  the  visitor  receives  from  a 
survey  of  the  interior  of  this  beautiful  edifice,  is  in  no 
small  degree  heightened  by  the  elegant  workmanship 
and  unity  of  design  displayed  in  this  department. 

Adjoining  the  Council  Chamber  is  a dressing-room, 
fitted  up  with  all  the  modern  conveniences,  connecting 
with  which  is  a large  conversation  and  committee  room. 
There  are  on  this  floor  two  rooms  for  the  Clerk  of  the 
Council ; one  for  the  Soldiers’  Fund  Association ; one 
for  the  Harbor  Commissioners ; three  for  the  School 
Committee,  and  two  not  yet  appropriated.  There  is 
also  a large  room  containing  water-closets,  urinals,  wash- 
bowls, &c. 

In  the  fifth  story,  within  the  roof,  is  a room  for  storing 
the  older  records  of  the  Assessors  ; a store-room  for  the 
Auditor ; a sleeping  room  for  the  watchmen ; a large 
room  for  the  storage  of  documents,  and  five  rooms  yet 

30 


110 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


unassigned,  all  elaborately  fitted  up  for  storing  docu- 
ments until  needed  for  more  important  city  purposes. 

The  attic,  as  has  been  remarked,  is  directly  over  the 
Common  Council  Chamber,  and  is  surmounted  by  the 
dome.  It  contains  the  operating  room  of  the  Fire- 
Alarm  Telegraph  ; two  sleeping  rooms  for  the  employes, 
who  are  obliged  to  spend  the  principal  part  of  their 
time  in  this  lofty  out-look ; a library  for  the  use  of  the 
operators  during  their  leisure  hours ; a wash-room,  and 
a store-room. 

Going  still  higher,  in  the  dome  itself,  is  the  battery 
room,  thirteen  feet  five  by  forty-one  feet  nine  inches,  a 
repair  shop,  and  a store-room. 

A reference  to  the  plans  of  the  several  stories,  form- 
ing part  of  this  document,  will  convey  to  the  reader  a 
clear  idea  of  the  location,  dimensions,  and  uses  of  the 
various  apartments,  herein  generally  enumerated. 

The  dome  is  surmounted  by  a balcony,  from  which 
rises  a flagstaff,  whose  height  above  the  ground  is  two 
hundred  feet.  Four  well-executed  lions’  heads  look  out 
fiercely  from  the  corners  of  the  balcony,  and  a magnifi- 
cent gilded  eagle  surmounts  the  centre  of  its  front. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  description  that  there 
is  ample  room  in  the  new  edifice  to  meet  the  prospective 
wants  of  the  city  for  many  years.  After  cutting  off  the 
outside  rents,  which  have  in  some  years  been  upwards 
of  $10,000,  and  for  many  years  not  less  than  $7,000, 
and  providing  every  important  office  with  two  or  three 
rooms,  as  above  enumerated,  with  a large  number  of 
committee  rooms,  there  still  remain  eight  or  ten  rooms 
for  which  at  present  there  is  no  assignment. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


Ill 


We  now  proceed  to  give  the  names  of  the  contractors, 
and  others,  who  have  contributed  in  a greater  or  less 
degree  to  the  advancement  of  the  work  on  the  edifice. 

The  granite  was  furnished  by  O.  E.  Sheldon,  Thomas 
Hollis,  George  Penniman,  and  E.  C.  Sargent,  and  was 
quarried  from  the  celebrated  “ Rattlesnake  Ledge,”  at 
Concord,  N.  H.  Messrs.  Wentworth  & Co.  furnished 
half  of  the  marble  chimney  pieces.  The  remainder  of 
the  marble  work,  including  the  beautiful  tablet  before 
spoken  of,  was  supplied  by  Bowker  & Torrey.  The 
North  River  tiles  in  the  basement  were  supplied  by 
Daniel  C.  Hutchinson,  and  the  dressed  North  River 
flagging  in  front  of  the  hall  by  Baldwin  & Emerson. 
The  iron  floor-bearers  were  from  the  mills  of  the  Phoenix 
Lon  Co.,  of  Philadelphia.  The  ornamental  iron-work 
of  the  exterior  and  interior,  (excepting  fences  and  gates,) 
was  supplied  by  J.  W.  Tuck  & Co.,  and  Messrs.  Chase 
Brothers.  All  the  other  iron  work,  including  fences 
and  gates,  was  provided  by  George  W.  and  F.  Smith, 
with  the  exception  of  a portion  of  that  for  the  stairs, 
which  was  supplied  by  Denio  & Roberts.  The  glass 
was  furnished  by  Tuttle  & Gaflield ; the  gas  piping  by 
S.  A.  Stetson  & Co. ; the  gas  fixtures  by  S.  A.  Stetson  & 
Co.,  Turner  & Ware,  Shreve,  Stanwood  & Co.,  and 
Bliss  & Perkins ; the  wooden  floorings  by  John  W. 
Latherbee ; the  locks  and  door  trimmings  by  Enoch 
Robinson  & Co.;  the  general  hardware  by  Brooks  & 
Darling  ; the  copper  roofing  by  Charles  S.  Parker  & 
Sons ; the  copper  gutters  and  conductors  by  Hicks  & 
Badger  ; and  the  lightning  rods  by  William  A.  Orcutt. 
The  bells  and  tubes  are  from  the  manufactory  of  S.  W. 


112 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Fuller.  The  window  shades  were  furnished  by  W.  B. 
Ellis  & Co.,  G.  H.  Cunningham  & Co.,  and  H.  A. 
Turner  & Co.  The  soapstone  fixtures  were  supplied  by 
George  II.  Foote  and  George  W.  Beach.  The  directo- 
ries and  signs  were  executed  by  II.  F.  Moore. 

The  contractors  for  the  mason  work  were  Messrs. 
Adams  & Jacobs.  Mr.  Jonas  Fitch  contracted  for  the 
carpenter  work,  which  has  been  executed  under  his 
constant  superintendence  and  that  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Fuller, 
for  many  years  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Fitch.  Under 
their  direction  were  constructed  the  grand  staircases. 
The  plaster  and  stucco  work  was  done  by  Messrs.  Titus 
& Ripley.  The  painting  has  been  done  under  a contract 
by  Haven  & Dexter.  The  glazing  was  performed  by 
Weston  & Putnam,  the  plumbing  by  Hawthorne  & 
Loudon  and  William  Trainer,  and  the  carved  work  on 
the  dome  by  McIntyre  & Gleason.  The  scagliola 
columns,  in  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s  chamber,  are  the 
work  of  Mr.  Asa  I).  Morse. 

In  regard  to  the  furniture,  it  is  sufficient  to  state  that 
nearly  all  the  fixed  articles,  such  as  counters,  &c.,  were 
made  and  put  up  by  Mr.  Fitch.  The  movable  furniture, 
except  that  for  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s  room,  was 
furnished  by  Stephen  Smith  and  Joseph  L.  Ross.  The 
movable  furniture  in  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen’s  room, 
the  president’s  rostrum  and  the  clerk’s  desk  in  the  coun- 
cil chamber,  the  chairs  for  both  chambers,  and  the  furni- 
ture for  the  Mayor’s  private  room,  were  furnished  under 
a contract  with  Messrs.  Boyce  Brothers  and  Squires,  and 
are  the  work  of  Messrs.  Touissaint  & Co. 

The  clocks  in  the  various  apartments  are  from  the 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


113 


manufactory  of  E.  Howard  & Co.,  and  H.  L.  Foss  & 
Co. 

The  carpeting  has  been  supplied  by  Goldthwaite, 
Snow  & Co.,  William  E.  Bright,  Eowle  & Co.,  Lovejoy 
and  Co.,  John  H.  Pray  & Co.,  Sweetser  & Abbott,  and 
F.  B.  Wentworth  & Co. 

To  Messrs.  B.  F.  Campbell  & Co.  belongs  the  credit 
of  beating  the  new  structure  upon  the  principle  of  steam 
at  low  pressure,  combining  the  best  experience  of  all  the 
various  principles  heretofore  brought  to  the  public  notice. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  sub-commit- 
tees in  immediate  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  new  ball 
since  its  commencement:  In  1862,  Messrs.  Francis 
Richards,  Daniel  Davies,  and  John  W.  Leighton;  1863, 
Joseph  F.  Paul,  Daniel  Davies,  and  Nathaniel  Adams ; 

1864,  Messrs.  Davies,  Adams,  and  William  Carpenter ; 

1865,  Messrs.  Davies,  Adams,  and  Wm.  W.  Warren. 

Mr.  Joel  Wheeler,  employed  by  the  city  to  superin- 
tend the  construction  of  the  building,  has  given  his 
personal  attention  to  the  work  daily  throughout,  until 
the  full  completion  of  the  building.  Mr.  James  C. 
Tucker,  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings,  in  his  official 
position,  has  aided,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Wheeler,  in 
advancing  the  work  from  day  to  day. 

The  excess  of  the  cost  of  this  building  over  the 
original  estimates  has  been  made  a subject  of  remark  in 
one  or  two  of  the  public  journals.  But  when  we  take 
into  consideration  the  great  additional  value  and  security 
gained  by  the  construction  of  fire-proof  floors,  and  a sub- 
cellar for  heating  apparatus  and  fuel,  as  recommended 
in  the  report  of  the  committee  of  March  30th,  1863, 

31 


114 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


together  with  the  other  alterations  and  additions  recom- 
mended at  that  time,  we  shall  be  led  to  believe  that  this 
additional  cost  has  been  wisely  incurred.  To  the  great 
and  unprecedented  advance  which  took  place  in  the 
price  both  of  labor  and  materials  during  the  progress 
of  the  building,  in  consequence  of  the  war,  must  be 
referred  a large,  if  not  the  greater  part  of  the  increase 
of  cost  on  the  books  of  the  City  Treasurer.  Some 
of  the  contracts  for  iron,  lead,  copper,  paints,  glass, 
etc.,  etc.,  were  necessarily  made  at  a time  when  gold 
was  selling  from  260  to  280  in  all  our  markets ; — 
add  this  unexpected  advance  in  prices  to  the  cost 
of  furniture,  fences,  and  grading  and  laying  out  of 
grounds,  and  it  will  be  found,  on  a fair  comparison, 
that  the  cost  of  the  building  proper  would  hardly  have 
exceeded  the  estimates  of  1862,  if  taken  at  the  then 
price  of  gold,  and  on  the  scale  of  values  of  materials 
and  labor  then  existing. 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  believed  to  be  demonstrable 
that,  in  view  of  the  conjunction  of  the  causes  already 
enumerated,  this  building  has,  in  fact,  been  built  with 
the  utmost  economy,  and  with  a very  close  adherence  to 
the  original  intentions  of  the  committee  who  reported, 
and  of  the  city  government,  who  authorized  its  erec- 
tion. It  would  be  easy  to  show  this  in  detail,  were 
it  necessary  or  proper  to  enter  into  an  exact  calculation, 
giving  the  items,  the  dates  of  contracting,  and  the  price 
of  gold  at  the  time  such  contracts  were  made,  as  com- 
pared with  the  price  ruling  in  the  months  of  July  and 
August,  1862.  Reducing  the  cost  to  a gold  standard, — 
scarcely  departed  from,  it  will  be  remembered,  at  the 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


115 


date  of  the  estimates  alluded  to,  — and  adding  the  extra 
cost  and  real  value  of  the  iron  fire-proof  construction  and 
sub-cellar,  — deliberately  adopted  upon  the  recommen- 
dation of  the  committee,  as  before  mentioned,  together 
with  other  important  alterations  and  additions, — and  it 
will  be  found  that  scarcely  any  discrepancy  exists  be- 
tween the  original  expectations  of  the  expense,  and  the 
actual  footing  up  of  all  the  items  fairly  to  be  included  in 
the  cost  of  the  building  itself.  It  was,  of  course,  always 
to  be  understood,  that  such  items  as  grading,  fencing, 
and  furnishing  were  not  to  be  included  in  an  estimate  of 
mechanical  work  required  in  erecting  the  structure. 


THE  COST  OF  CONSTRUCTION  AND  FURNISHING 

IS  AS 

FOLLOWS 

Plans,  Designs  and  Models  . 

$11,177 

00 

Removing  Old  Building,  Excavating,  Carting 

and 

Grading  Grounds  . . . . . ' . 

6,243 

85 

Dressed  Stone  and  cutting  the  same 

96,197 

10 

Mason  Work,  including  setting  the  dressed  stone 

54,358 

47 

Iron  Beams,  Stairs,  Fence,  and  Gates 

65,237 

30 

Lumber,  Carting  and  Burnetizing 

4,555 

24 

Carpenter’s  Work,  which  includes  all  fixtures 

for 

Closets,  Counters,  &c.  . ...  . 

100,431 

37 

Plastering  and  Stucco  Work,  which  includes 

the 

Scagliola  Columns  . 

15,592 

94 

Heating  Apparatus  ...... 

22,525 

36 

Painting  and  Glazing  . . . . . 

13,350 

31 

Marble  and  Soapstone  Work,  Tiling,  &c.  . 

9,720 

51 

Slating,  Coppering  and  Copper  Gutters  . 

13,798 

26 

Window  Glass  ...... 

7,532 

68 

Plumbing  ....... 

5,262 

16 

Amount  carried  forward , . . . . 

$425,982 

55 

116 


THE  CITY  HALL. 


Amount  brought  forward , .... 

Carving  ........ 

Hard  W are  and  Window  W eights 

Gas  Pipes  and  Fixtures  ..... 

Lightning  Conductors,  Speaking  Tubes  and  Bells 
Superintendent  of  Construction 

Fuel  and  Gas 

Furniture  and  Carpets  ..... 
Moving  and  Removing  Franklin  Statue,  laying  Cor- 
ner-Stone, and  incidental  expenses  of  Committee 


$425,982  55 
1,939  50 
4,292  10 
9,195  67 
602  20 
3,640  00 
4,049  90 
51,829  75 

3,659  75 


Total 


. $505,191  42 


J.H  Buf  ford  a ,hth . 


SIDE  ELEVATION  WEST 

Facing  King's  Chapel  Burial  Ground 
24  ft  to  I Inch. 


.1  llBuffi>rdS-ii!l>  Boston 


REAR  ELEVATION 


LONGITUDINAL  SECTION. 


J.ff  Bul'ford  ;.lith  ■ 


•SUB  EASEMT 
BASEMENT 


1 s7  STORY 


?\D  STORY 


A.A.FURNACt  ROOMS. 

BB. PASSAGES. 

C.  PAUPERS'  ROOM. 

D.  WATER  CLOSETS. 

E.  OFFICE, FIREMEN  & WATERBOARD 

F.  STOREROOM. 

G janitor’s  OFFICE 

H.  CITY  PHYSICIAN. 

I.  TREASURER 

J.  FRONT  ENTRANCE  HALL 

K.  AUDITOR. 

L.  ASSESSORS 

M CITY  CLERK,  PRIvI 
Kt.  t , 

O.  MAYOR,  b ALDERMEN. 

P.  WATER  CLOSETS, 
e-  MAYOR 


3?  STORY 

R. 

SUPT  OF  LAN  DS  & S EWERS . 

0 

S. 

. FI R E ALARMS 

, 

T. 

INSPECTOR  OF  MILK 

0 

U. 

SUPT.  OF  STREETS  . 

4?  SIORY 

V. 

CLERK  OF  COMMON  COUNCIL 

„ 

W. 

, , - „ 

X. 

COMMON  COUNCIL. 

Y. 

FOR  MEMBERS  OF  COUNCIL 

Z. 

COMMITTEE  ROOM 

5t.m  STORY. 

I. 

UNOCCUPIED 

Z. 

GALLERIES,  COM  COUNCIL 

3. 

UNOCCUPI  ED. 

ATTI  C . 

4. 

CHAMBER,  ( WATCH  MEN  ^ 

* 

5. 

USRARY. 

e. 

FIRE  TELEGRAPH. 

DOME. 

7. 

BATTERY  ROOM 

8 

STORE  ROOM. 

LONGITUDINAL  SECTION, 

TJiro'uerir  Staircase  Hall-. 


J.H.Bufford  ,hth . 


SUBBASEMT 

BASEMENT. 


1ST  story 


A.A. 

PASSAGES 

1s7 

STORY. 

J. 

STAIRCASE  HALL.  3°  STORY. 

S. 

SUPT.  OF  ST R EET 5, PR  1 VT. 

B. 

CELLAR. 

t 

„ 

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ASSESSORS  4T,H  , 

T. 

SOLDIERS’  FUND  ASSOC 

0. 

PAUPERS'- ROOM 

2,M„C 

> STORY 

L- 

RECORDS. 

U. 

STAIRCASE  HALL 

D.D. 

LOBBIES 

„ 

M. 

STAIRCASE  HALL. 

V. 

WATER  CLOSETS. 

E. 

STAIRCASE  HALL. 

k 

„ 

N. 

LOBBY  5T,M  STORY. 

w. 

UNOCCUPIED 

F: 

CITY  PHYSICIAN  PRiVT, 

„ 

0. 

MAYOR’S  CLERX. 

x.x. 

LOBBIES 

G. 

PASSAGE. 

3 ® 

STORY 

P. 

SLTP.T-OF  LANDS  & SEWERS., 

Y. 

STAIRCASE  HALL. 

H. 

SAFE  ROOM. 

„ 

* 

ftQ- 

LOBBIES  , „ 

Z. 

UNOCCUPIED 

1. 

CLOSET. 

A 

R 

STAIRCASE  HALL 

c.oa.S  ICY  LICHTS 

S'irS™"*')  ARCH 

c*.  A.  Oilman, 


J H Buffbrd.  .lith.  Boston^ 


SUB-BASEMENT. 


BUP/fiL  GFtOUVO. 


2 

Ul  ^ 
Vy  O 

Q Vi 
k £ 


COURT  SQUARE 


v i Fr?Ja3,t’!  ARCHTS 
At  A.bimian, 


J.H  Buffor  d .Boston 


k/£'  0"  * 


ctf’  0 


Plan  of  Basement 


A//ies'  a Lock 


PASSAGE 


G iF.?7ant'  archts 
b.  A.  Gilman,  1 


J.HBufford  ,lith . Boston. 


Plan  or  First  Story 

Scale  24  fl.to  1 Inch. 


UU.ES  ' BLOCK. 


G.J.F.  Bryant,)  ts 
& A.  Gilman,  | 


J.HBufford . Boston, 


PLAN  OF 


SECOND  STORY. 


G.J.F.Biyant  j 
Ac  A.Gilman. 


J.HBuffbrd  litli 


Plan  of  third  story 


G.J.F.Biyant 
flc  A.Gihnan. 


'ARCH 


J.HBufford  ,lrth. 


PLAN  or  FOURTH  STORY 


G.J.F.Biyant  ) 
& A.Gihnan.  < 


J.HBufford  Jvth: 


PLAN  of  FIFTH  STORY 


PLAN  OF  ATTIC  & ROOF". 
Scale  24ft.  to  I in . 


PLAN  OF  DOME 

Seale  (S't-ft  to  I in. 


APPENDIX. 


32 


I 


COPIES  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS, 

IN  THE  POSSESSION  OF  THE 

Maflachufetts  Hiltorical  Society, 

RELATING  TO  THE  ERECTION  OF  TOWN  HOUSES  IN  BOSTON 
IN  1657  AND  17U. 


Power  Conferred  by  the  Committee  for  the  Town  Honfe  — 1657. 

Wee  whofe  names  are  vnder  wrighten  having  full  power 
given  vs  by  the  Town  of  Bolton  to  Agree  with  workmen, 
& in  their  behalfe  to  Engadge  the  Town,  In  the  Payment 
of  any  fum  or  fums  for  the  building  Ereding  & Compleat- 
ing  of  A houfe  for  the  Town  both  for  the  forme  & dimen- 
tions &c.  according  as  we  (hall  Judge  meet,  They  the  fd 
Towne  having  Engadged  themfelves  to  own  & Hand  by 
vs  and  performe  what  promifes  Covenants  or  Engadgmts 
wee  Ihould  make  in  order  to  the  accomplifhing  of  the 
premifes,  And  to  facillitate  the  fd  worke  we  the  fd  fub- 
fcribed  doe  make  choyce  of  M Edward  Hutchinfon  & 
John  Hull  in  o behalfe  to  Agree  & Compound  with 
workmen  & Engadge  paym!  in  everie  refped  for  the  fd 
worke  & we  doe  hereby  oblidge  or  felves  to  Hand  by,  own, 
& performe  what  the  fd  Mr  Ed : Hutchinfon  & Jn  Hull 


120. 


APPENDIX. 


foe  deputed  lliall  doe  or  Engadge  themfelves  in  as  iff  it 
was  the  perfonall  ad  of  everie  one  off  vs  & heervnto  we 
fubfcribe  o^  hands,  by  this  binding  or  felves  likewife  to 
own  what  the  fd  prtyes  have  allridy  done  in  the  fd  worke 
figned  this  31  of  the  6th  month  1657. 

!Tho  : Marshall 
Samuel  Cobb 
William  Caddy 
Josh  : Scottow 
Jer  : Howchin. 


AGREEMT  FOR  THE  TOWN  HOUSE  — 1657. 

Boston  Auguft  i.  1657. 

Wee  whofe  names  are  vnder  wrighten  Being  chofen  by 
& in  behalfe  of  the  Town  of  Bofton,  to  bargain  & Con- 
trad  with  fome  able  workemen  about  A houfe  for  the 
Town,  we  have  Bargained  & Contraded,  & by  thefe  pre- 
fents  doe  bargain  & Covenant  with  Thomas  Joy  and 
Bartholomew  Bernad  of  Bofton ; & the  fd  Thomas  Joy  & 
Barth  Bernad,  are  heerby  bound  & doe  oblidge  themfelves 
vnto  the  l'd  Town  of  Bofton  (&  in  vn[to]  In  their  behalfe) 
that  they  will  Prepare  & Ered,  a very  fubftantiall  and 
Comely  building  In  the  place  Appointed  by  the  fd  Town; 
The  di mentions  of  wch  Edifice  {hall  be  fixty  fix  foot  in 
Length,  and  thirty  fix  foot  in  Breadth  from  out  fide  to 
out  fide,  fet  vpon  twenty  one  Pillers  of  full  ten  foot  high 
between  Pedeftall  & Capitall,  & well  brafed  all  four 
waies,  placed  vpon  foundation  of  ftone  in  the  bottome. 
The  wholl  Building  to  Jetty  over  three  foot  without  the 


COriES  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS. 


121 


Pillers  everie  way : The  height  of  the  fd  Houfe  to  be  ten 
foot  betwixt  Joynts  above  the  Pillers,  and  a halfe  ftorie 
above  that,  with  three  gable  Endes  over  it  vpon  each  fide  : 
A walke  vpon  the  Top  fourteen  or  15  foote  wide  with  two 
Turrets,  & turnd  Balafters  and  railes,  round  about  the 
walke  according  to  A modell  or  draught  Prefented  to  vs, 
by  the  fd  Tho  : Joy,  & Barth : Bernad.  The  fd  Tho : Joy 
& Barth  : Bernad  Likewife,  finding  all  things  necifarie  and 
meet  for  the  fd  Building,  viz  : Timber  in  in  everie  refped 
& of  everie  fort,  fubflantiall  & meet  according  to  Propor- 
tion & Art,  Plank  for  the  fides  & ends  three  Inch  thick,* 
well  graved  one  into  another,  and  into  the  timbers  allfo  an 
Inch  and  halfe ; well  plained  and  fmoothed  one  Both 
fides,  two  Inch  plank  for  the  lower  floor,  and  full  Inch 
for  the  vpper  floor,  Both  fmoothed,  and  vpon  the  walk 
duble  boarded  and  well  graved ; the  Rooff  well  boarded 
& fliingled,  with  gutters  fufflciently  made. 

Bringing  all  to  the  Place,  Ereding,  finifliing  & Com- 
pleating  the  whole  Edifice  viz  The  Frame,  foundations, 
Floores,  flaires  (viz  Two  pair  halfe  paced  ffaires  & turnd 
ftaires  vp  into  the  walke)  doores,  window  Cafes  & Cafe- 
ments,  mantle  peeces,  Inclofures  Pertitions*|'  &c  The  wholl 
Edifice  to  be  Ereded,  by  the  thirty  daye  of  the  fourth 
month  called  June  next  enfuing  the  date  heeroff;  and 
Covered  and  fliingled  within  fix  weekes  after  that.  The 
Town  finding  all  the  Iron  worke,  as  nailes  hookes  hinges 
&c.  glafs  with  glafing  and  Lead  for  the  Gutters  mafonrie 
worke  as  the  chimnies,  foundation  of  the  Pillers  with  ftone 


* Only  we  alow  of  Two  Inch  plank  for  the  fids  & ends  above  the  Plates  & beames. 
f There  is  to  be  both  Roomes  from  the  chimnies  clofed  one  both  fides  and  one  Crofs 
partition  in  one  of  the  Roomes;  befide  the  flair  Cafe. 

33 


122 


APPENDIX. 


brick  & Lime  belonging  to  the  fame  the  afforf‘?  Tho : & 
Barth:  all  the  other  worke  as  afford  The  Town  finding 
help  at  the  rayfing. 

In  confideration  of  the  premifes  we  doe  heerby  oblidge 
ourfelves  (according  to  order  & in  behalfe  of  the  fd  Town 
ol  Bofton  afforfd)  To  give  & Affigne  over  vnto  the  fd 
Tho : Joy  & Barthol : Bernad,  or  to  either  of  them  or  their 
affignes  the  three  Hund  : Pounds  wc!*  is  that  Part  of  the 
Legacy  of  Cap*  Rob*  Keyne  (deceafed)  defigned  & be- 
queathed vnto  the  fd  Town  in  his  Laft  will  for  ther  vfe, 
and  alfo  one  hund.  Pound  more  we  heerby  oblidge  or 
felves  to  Pay  or  Caufe  to  be  paied  vnto  the  fd  Thomas  & 
Bartholomew  or  their  Affignes  In  good  Englifh  goods  at 
prife  Currant,  and  likewife  to  doe  our  vttmost  that  one  fiffty 
pound  of  this  above  mentioned  payml  (viz  out  of  the  thre 
Hund)  may  be  made  in  mony  for  the  more  lively  cavfing 
an  end  of  the  affor  fd  worke. 

The  Time  of  wch  Payment  fhall  be  as  followeth  viz: 
one  Hund.  Pound  at  the  Bringing  of  the  Timber  to  the 
Place  A feccond  Hund:  at  the  rayfing  A third  Hund: 
at  the  Inclofure  & Covering  A fourth  at  the  finifhing  and 
Compleating  vnto  all  thefe  premifes  abovef?  we  doe  heerby 
Joyntly  & feveraly  mutualy  & Interchangeably  bind  or 
felves  by  or  hands  & feales  this  firft  of  Augutl,  1657. 

We  doe  alfo  engadge  that  the  three  Hund:  pound  in 
the  Legacy  abovefd  fhall  be  made  good  vnto  the  fd  work- 
men Thomas  & Bartholomew. 

Witne/es  heer  vnto 

Joseph  Newgate  Edward  Hutchinson  [seal.] 

James  Browne  John  Hull,  [seal.] 

Henry  Powning 


COPIES  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS. 


123 


RELATING  TO  YK  TOWN  HOUSE  RENTS.  READ 
MARCH  ioTn  1711-12. 

Whereas  the  Rents  referved  to  the  Town  of  Bofton  for 
feveral  fpare  Rooms  in,  under,  and  Adjoyning  to  the  late 
Town  Houfe  befide  all  rooms  made  ufe  of  there  for  Pub- 
lick  Occafions,  did  according  to  the  Rates  they  were  lett, 
or  might  have  been  Lett  at  amount  to  Eighty  pounds  Pr 
annum. 

And  the  Great  and  Gen"  Court  or  Affembly  of  this 
Province  haveing  lately  direded,  That  there  be  a Houfe 
built  in  or  neer  the  place  where  the  Old  Town  Houfe 
hood,  for  Publick  meetings  on  Civill  Occasions,  For 
Province  County  and  Town,  Vizi  For  the  Meeting  of  the 
Gen11  Affembly,  The  holding  of  Councills  and  Courts  of 
Juftice  and  Town  Meetings,  the  Charge  thereof  to  be  born 
the  One  halfe  by  the  Province,  the  Other  halfe  by  the 
Town  of  Bofton  and  County  of  Suffolk  in  Equall  propor- 
tion, unto  which  propofal  the  Inhabitants  of  Bofton  have 
Voted  their  Concurrance. 

And  fince  there  is  profpect  of  as  great  if  not  greater 
improvemts  and  advantage  by  fuch  fpare  room  in  the  fd 
new  building  now  to  be  Ereded,  it  may  not  be  unfeafona- 
ble  for  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  now  to  make  Sutable 
provifion  to  fecure  that  priviledge  and  benefitt  to  them 
felves  and  their  lucceffors. 

And  altho  other  Arguments  might  be  of  weight  for 
their  being  fo  benefitted,  Yet  rather  then  forego  and  loofe 
the  fame,  May  it  not  be  advifeable  for  them  to  agree  upon 
bearing  fome  Additional  Charge  in  ye  fd  building  as  an 
Equivalent,  That  fo  they  may  be  thereby  Effectually  Inti- 


124 


APPENDIX. 


tulled  to  the  benefit  and  improvement  of  all  fuch  rooms 
and  fpaices  in  under  and  adjoyning  to  the  fd  New  building 
which  {hall  be  conveniently  capable  of  being  inclofed  and 
Improved  for  diftind  ufes,  and  otherwife  not  needfull  to 
be  made  ufe  of  for  thofe  afore  mentioned  Intentions  pro- 
pofed  by  the  Gen"  Court,  and  thereby  to  Leffen  the  Charge 
of  the  Province,  Town  and  County  in  their  refpective 
proportions  as  aforefaid.  The  which  additionall  Charge, 
together  with  the  Charge  of  Inclofeing  and  fitting  of  (hops 
&c.  there,  may  (if  the  Town  fees  meet)  to  very  good 
advantage  be  defrayd  out  of  that  their  money  wch  is  the 
Effefts  of  Lands  fold  and  in  Equity  ought  to  be  fo  layd 
out  as  to  raile  and  perpetuate  an  income  to  the  Town. 

And  in  cafe  futable  Application  be  made  to  the  Gen11 
Court  on  the  behalfe  of  this  Town  relating  to  the  premi- 
fies,  under  the  confideration  of  their  Exceffive  growing 
Charge  & Expences,  & their  fo  great  a lofs  by  the  Late  Fire, 
& that  the  Late  Town-House  wch  was  built  at  the  Charge 
of  ye  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  was  for  neer  fifty  years  paft 
made  ufe  of  for  all  Publick  Occafions  wthout  any  other 
Charge  to  the  Public  then  that  for  fome  of  the  Later  years 
they  have  born  part  of  ye  Charge  of  ye  Repaires. 

And  that  the  Town  of  Bofton  being  the  true  and  proper 
Owners  of  all  that  Land  on  wch  the  faid  New  building  is 
now  to  be  erefted.  It  is  prefumed  that  they  will  readily 
agree  unto  fo  juft  and  reafonable  a propofal. 

Propofed  By  Jofeph  Prout  Read  at  ye  begining  of  ye 
Town  meeting  ye  10th  of  March  1711-12. 


COPIES  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS. 


125 


GENVL  COURT  DIRECTIONS  ABT  BUILDING  A TOWN 
HOUSE— 1711. 

1711  Octo.  Committee  appointed  by  the  Gen1  Court  viz 

Eilflia  Hutchinfon  Samuel  Sewall  Nathan1  Payn  & 
Thomas  Noyes  Efqrs  of  the  Council,  Samuel  Appleton, 
Jofiah  Chapin,  John  Clark  & James  Warren  Efq1-5  Majr 
Thomas  Fitch,  Cap1  Simon  Davis  and  Capt!  Samuel  Phipps 
of  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives. 

The  Above  Committee  Advife  that  there  be  a houfe 
built  in  or  near  the  place  where  the  old  Town  houfe  flood 
for  the  ufes  mentioned  in  the  Memorial  as  convenient  as 
may  be  without  incomoding  the  ftreet  the  Breadth  not  to 
Exceed  thirty  fix  feet  the  Length  to  as  to  be  Convenient 
for  the  Ends  mentioned  in  the  Addreffe.  That  a Com- 
mittee be  Appointed  by  this  Court  to  take  Care  for  the 
Building  as  fpeedily  & prudently  as  may  be,  The  Charge 
thereof  to  be  born  the  one  half  by  the  Province  the  other 
halfe  by  the  Town  of  Bofton  & County  of  Suffolk  in 
Equal  proportion. 

By  ordr  of  the  Major  part  of  the  Committee, 

Elisha  Hutchinson. 

November  10  1711  Read  and  Accepted  And  a Com- 
mittee Raifed  and  Directed  to  Advife  with  his  Excellency 
and  fuch  Ikilful  gent"  as  they  may  think  fit  to  be  Confulted 
with  about  the  Model  of  the  Houfe. 

Copy  of  the  Minutes. 

IsA  Addington  Secry. 


Note.  That  the  Houfe  is  for  Publick  Meetings,  on  Civil  Occafions;  for  the  Province, 
County  & Town,  viz*  for  the  Meeting  of  the  General  Affembly  The  Holding  of  Councils, 
and  Courts  of  Juft  ice  and  Town  meeting. 

34 


COPY  OF  THE  SUBSCRIPTION  PAPER 


FOR  THE 

FIRST  TOWNHOUSE  IN  BOSTON, 

ERECTED  BETWEEN  1657  and  1659. 


Whearas  thear  is  giuen  a confiderabl  fume  by  Capt  Kayne 
towars  the  Bulding  of  a towne  houfe  wch  fume  will  not  ataine 
the  Bulding  wch  he  mentioneth  in  his  will,  now  confidering  the 
vfefullnes  of  fuch  a ftructure  we  whofe  names  are  vnder  written, 
doe  ingag  or  felues  or  heyres  executors  for  to  giue  towards 
the  abou  fd  hous  and  alfoe  a condit  in  the  market  place  the 
severall  sumes  vnder  written.* 

£ s 

Jo  : Endecott  . . . . 2 — 10 — 00 

pd  Ri  Bellingham  in  Country  pay  10 — 00 — 00  pd  17. 

pd  Edward  Tynge  in  Come  10 — 00 — o pd 

pd  John  Euered  in  goods  and 

corne  ....  010=00 — 00  pd 

pd  46  s Peter  Olliuer  in  goods  and 

provifions  . • . 10=00 — 00 

John8  Barrett : in  goods  : or 

corne  ....  03 — 00 — 00  d.  29  Aug.  1658 

pd  James  Olliuer  provided  there 
be  a Cundit  withall  in  goods 
and  provifions  eqelly  . 12 — o — 00  pd 


* This  was  written  between  23  March,  1656,  and  29  August,  1658. 

Farmer. 

Subsequent  comparison  allows  me  to  say  that  it  was  written  in  1656. — F. 


COPIES  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS. 


127 


Will  Paine  in  goods  and  provifions 
pd  Richard  Parker  in  goods  and  provifions  . 
pd  Nathaniell  Williams  in  goods 
pd  Sarah  Parker  in  provifions 
pd  Henry  Powning  in  goods 
pd  John  Cogan  in  Corne  ...  I 
....  five  pounds  . . . . ) 

paid  Theodore  Atkinfon  will  give  in  hats  . 

Tho  Howkings  ..... 

paid  John  Hull  In  Englifh  goods  fiveb8 
pd  Thomas  Clarke  in  provifion  or  goods 
pd  Robt  Turner  ...... 

paid  Richard  Cooke  in  provifions  . 

pd  Robert  Swift 

paid.  Samuel  Hutchinfon  in  wheat 
paid  Jofh  Scottow  in  pvifion  or  goods 
pd  Willm  Hudfon  will  : pay  in  bricks  lyeme 
pd  bords  ....  or  timber  the  feme  of 

Hezekiah  Ufher  : will  pay  2 In  Englifh 
pd  Goods  or  equivolent,  twentye  : poundes, 

paid  prouifo  : y*  ye  market  houfe  bee  Erre6ted 

in  ye  markett  place-  & A cunditt. 

Wm  Dauis  will  pay  in  goods  & corne  Fif- 
paid  teene  pounds  prouided  ye  market-houfe 
bee  erected  in  ye  markett  place  & a coun- 
duitt  alfo  railed  & Finiflied  . 
pd  Thomas  Buttolphe ..... 

paid  James  Penn  ...... 

paid  Jacob  Sheafe  in  provifion  & goods  . 
paid  Tho  : Lake  £ In  Englifh-goods  & £ In  pro- 
visions ....... 

pd  Ifaak  Waker  in  Englifh  goods  or  provifions 
paid  John  Sanderline  $£  .... 

. pd  Robt : Patefhall,  in  planke,  or  boards 

paid  Thomas  Matfon 

paid  John  Williams  ...... 

paid  Thomas  Edfell 


. 15  . 00  . 00 

10 — 00 — 00  pd 

03 —  00 — 00  pd 
05 — 00 — 00  pd 
02 — 00 — 00  pd 

05 — 00 — 00  pd 

005  : 00  : 00  pd 

02  o — ■ o 

05 — 00 — 00  pd 

04 —  00 — 00  pd 
5—0  — o pd 

03  10  00  pd 

02  . 10  00  pd 

5 . 00 — 00  pd 
5 : 00 — 00  pd 

10=00=00 


20=00=00  pd 


15  — — 

02 —  00 — 00 
05 — 00 — 00 
12 — 00 — 00 

09 — 00  : 00 

03 —  00 — 00 
03 — 00=00 
05  : 00  : 00 

1 — o — o 
o — 10 — o 
00 — 10 — o 


128 


APPENDIX. 


paid  Thomas  Bligh  ...... 

oo — 15  00 

paid  Richard  Grjdley  ..... 

02 OO O 

paid  John  Button  ...... 

04 — 00 — 0 

Benjamin  Negus 

James  Eueritt  in  Flower.  .... 

OI OO OO 

Robt  Batterly 

00 — 15 — 00 

paid  John  Coney 

00 — 15 — 00 

paid  Samuell  Mattocke  ..... 

O 

0 

1 

O 

O 

paid  Rich3  Stanes  ...... 

OO IO OO 

paid  Rowland  Story  in  Lewtenant  Cooks  hand 

01  : 00  : 00 

paid  Ri  Wayte  ....... 

02 — 00 — 00 

paid  Phillip  Whorton 

02 — 00 — 00 

paid  Auguften  Clement 

1 — 0 — 0 

paid  Richard  Woodde  in  provifion 

01 — 0 — 0 

paid  John  Phillips  ..... 

0 

1 

0 

1 

ro 

O 

paid  Tho  Emons  ...... 

1 — 0 — 0 

paid  Thomas  Littell  thre  dayes  worke  . 

OO IO O 

Humphrey  Bradthaw  thre  dayes  worke 

00 — 10 — 0 

Jofeph  Bonde  ten  Hidings  by  Samell  Lemist 

00 — 10 — 0 

George  Brome  a buthel  wheate 

00 — 04 — 0 

paid  William  Paddy 

12 0 O 

paid  Henry  Kemble 

00 IO — 0 

paid  Thomas  Makepeace  ..... 

OI OO  . O 

paid  Jolhua  Hewes  ..... 

00 — 10 — 0 

Ffrances  Smith 

00  . 10 — 00 

paid  Francis  Doufe 

00 — 09 — 0 

paid  John  Pierce  

S4 — 00  — 

paid  Simon  Eire  ...... 

I . 10  . 0 

paid  Comfort  Starr  ...... 

01 — 00 — 00 

paid  Henry  Phillips 

05 — 00 — 00 

paid  Henry  Shrimpton  Corne  wood  . 

10 — 00 — 00 

paid  John  Lowel  ...... 

03 — 00  00 

paid  George  Munioy  three  pounds 

03 — 00 — 00 

paid  Jno.  Joyliffe  ...... 

03  . 00  . 00 

paid  Amos  Richardfon  ..... 

02  : 00  : 00 

pd  Edmond  Grenleff  ..... 

0 — 10 — 0 

pd  .Edward  Porter 

1 — 0 — 0 

COPIES  OF  ORIGINAL  TAPERS. 


129 


paid  Nicholas  Phillips  ..... 

0 — 10 — 0 

pd  Thomas  Harwood  ..... 

1 — 00 — 0 

paid  Thomas  Brattle  ..... 

5—  0—  0 

paid  Thomas  Baker  in  Iron  workes  . 

01 — 00 — 0 

paid  John  Biggs  in  Shingle  or  worke 

002 — 00 — 00 

paid  Jo  : Marthall  in  flioes  .... 

01 — 0 — 0 

paid  Henry  Alline 

01 — 00 — 00 

paid  Hugh  Drury  ...... 

01 — 00  0 

paid  John  Collens  ..... 

I O O 

paid  Thomas  Scotto  ..... 

1 — 0 — 0 

paid  Nathanell  Thorn  ..... 

O IO O 

paid  John  Pears  ...... 

1 — 0 — 0 

paid  William  Reade  ..... 

00 — 10 — 00 

paid  Will.  Tay  . 

00 — 10 — 00 

paid  Jo?  Blacklach  ..... 

01 — 00 — 00 

paid  John  Clough  ...... 

00 — 10 — 00 

paid  Sam11  Davice  . . . 

00 — 05 — 00 

paid  Samuel  1 Cole 

02 OO OO 

paid  Chriftopher  Gibfon  .... 

02 — 00 — 00 

paid  Robert  Nanney  ...... 

02 — 00 — 00 

paid  Henry  Bridgham  ..... 

10—00 — 00 

paid  Thomas  Waker  ...... 

12 — 10 — 00 

paid  Nathanell  Raynolls  .... 

01 — 00  00 

John  Hawkines  tobaco  .... 

OI OO OO 

paid  Arthur  Maffon  ..... 

00 — 10 — 00 

paid  Ann  Carter  ios 

00 — 10  . 00 

paid  James  Dauis  by  Tho  : Joy  6s  & 4s  more 

00 — 10 — 00 

paid  Daniel  Turill  ..... 

01 — 00 — 00 

paid  Thomas  Fich  ...... 

paid  Edmund  Jacklin  in  glafs  or  worke  if  I be  in 

00 — 10 — 00 

the  contry  when  the  houfe  is  to  be  glaffed 

01 — 00=00 

paid  William  Gibfon  ..... 

00 — 05 — 00 

paid  Jeremy  Caftine 

01 — 00 — 00 

paid  Edmund  Jackfon  by  Thomas  Fay 

01 — 00 — 00 

Miells  Towne  in  lether  .... 

00 — 5 s — 00 

pd  William  Englilh  — in  thoes 

02 OO OO 

paid  Jofeph  Howe  Twenty  Shillings 

35 

01 — 0 — 0 

130 


APPENDIX. 


paid  Samuel  Norden  in  fhoes  .... 

00 — 10 — 0 

pd  i os  Robert  Nafh  in  worke  .... 

01 — 10 — 00 

paid  Mathew  Barnes  — paid  i — 9 — 3 

1 — 10 — 0 

paid  Thomas  Dewer  ..... 

01 — 00 — 0 

paid  William  Corfer  ...... 

OO IO O 

paid  Bartholomew  Cheever  30  f . 

01 — 10 — 0 

Henery  Meffenger  — paid  .... 

0 — 10 — 0 

Will.  Colburn  in or  provilion  paid 

16s  ....... 

3 . OO  OO 

paid  Edward  Goodwin  ..... 

0 06 OO 

pd  James  Johnfon  in  his  Comodityes  . 

02  : 00  : 00 

pd  5s  John  Newgat  promife  to  give  five  pound  & 

in the  preveledg  of  our  .... 

10 — 00 — 00 

Thomas  Bumfted  of  Bofton  promife  . 

1 — 00 — 00 

paid  Natha  : Duncan 

2 . . . 

paid  Peter  Duncan  ...... 

1 — 10 — 00 

paid  John  Wifwall  ..... 

02 — 10 — 0 

paid  Jofeph  Wife 

2 — 00 — 00 

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